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Rocky Mountain maple
Scientific Name: Acer glabrum var. glabrum
Family: Aceraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum)
Acer glabrum, commonly known as Rocky Mountain maple, is a maple species native to western North America.
Considerations for Pets
- Seeds: The plant produces winged seeds.
- Growth Habit: Commonly found along stream banks and in forests.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Acer glabrum Torr.
- Common Names: Rocky Mountain maple, Douglas maple, Sierra maple, Mountain maple, Dwarf maple, New Mexico maple
- Family: Aceraceae (Maple family), now often included in Sapindaceae (Soapberry Family)
- Genus: Acer L. (maple)
- Subspecies/Varieties: Acer glabrum var. glabrum (syn. subsp. glabrum) and Acer glabrum var. diffusum
- Synonyms: Acer tripartitum Nutt.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western North America.
- Found from Alaska south to Northern California, east to Idaho.
- Grows in the Rocky Mountains.
- Occurs in coniferous, upland deciduous, and riparian forests.
- Prefers moist soils along canyons and mountain slopes.
- Found at elevations from 4,500 to 10,000 feet.
Morphological Characteristics
- Deciduous tree or shrub, growing to 9 meters (approximately 30 feet) tall, sometimes described as up to 25 feet.
- Often multi-stemmed.
- Small, sometimes tree-like shrub reaching 15 to 30 feet in height.
- Small, rather delicate-looking tree.
- Has opposite, ascending to erect branches.
- Rounded twigs.
- Narrow crown.
- Reddish twigs.
- Leaves are opposite, simple or compound varying widely. Generally palmate with three lobes.
- Flowers are small (0.3 inches or 0.8 cm wide), and can occur as male and female flowers on the same plant.
- Produces 2 tan colored, winged seeds joined at the base in a V-shape.
- Smooth, grayish-purple bark.
- Fall color is yellow to orange-red.
Ecological Role
- Important species for foraging animals such as moose, deer, elk, and big horn sheep.
- Browsed by mule deer, which may limit its size in the wild.
Quirky Facts
- The Rocky Mountain maple was reported by the Lewis and Clark Expedition at the Lemhi River on August 13, 1805.
Additional Information
- Hardy to zone (UK) 5.
- Flowers in April, and seeds ripen in September.