Maple
The oldest known fossils of the genus Acer date back to the late Paleocene, approximately 60 million years ago. These ancient remains were discovered in Northeast Asia and northern North America. A leaf fossil of Acer florissanti from the Late Eocene exists within the Florissant Formation in Colorado, United States. The oldest fossils found in Europe come from Svalbard and date to the late Eocene between 38 and 34 million years ago. The closest relative of this genus is Dipteronia, which has a fossil record extending back to the middle Paleocene in North America. Molecular studies suggest the group appeared first in the northeastern Palearctic region during the Late Paleocene. Rapid lineage divergence followed these origins before independent dispersals reached the Nearctic and Western Palearctic regions.
Most maples are trees growing to significant heights while others remain shrubs under 10 meters tall with small trunks originating at ground level. The leaves in most species display palmate veining with three to nine veins leading to lobes. Exceptions include Acer carpinifolium and Acer laurinum which lack typical palmate structures. Maple flowers appear in racemes, corymbs, or umbels with four or five sepals and petals measuring one to six millimeters long. The distinctive fruits called samaras spin as they fall like miniature helicopters. These seeds occur in pairs with one seed enclosed in a nutlet attached to a flattened wing of fibrous tissue. During World War II the US Army developed an airdrop supply carrier based on the maple seed design that could carry up to 500 pounds of supplies. Most species require stratification to germinate and some seeds can remain dormant in soil for several years.
Caterpillars like the greenstriped mapleworm can feed on leaves so heavily that they cause temporary defoliation of host trees. Aphids act as very common sap-feeders on these plants. Infestations of the Asian long-horned beetle have resulted in the destruction of thousands of maples across Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Similar destruction occurred in Ontario, Canada following the discovery of this pest in September 2003. Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium species can lead to significant local mortality among affected populations. Sooty bark disease caused by Cryptostroma species kills trees under stress from drought conditions. Maple leaves in late summer and autumn are commonly disfigured by tar spot caused by Rhytisma species. Fifty-four species meet International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria for being under threat of extinction in their native habitat.
A maple leaf appears on the coat of arms of Canada and is featured prominently on the Canadian flag. The design on the flag is an eleven-point stylization modeled after a sugar maple leaf which normally bears 23 points. This arboreal emblem refers to a generic maple rather than just one specific species today. The idea originally hailed from the province of Quebec where the sugar maple holds significance. Maple leaves serve as traditional military regalia for the Canadian Forces with generals using maple leaf symbols for rank insignia. The first attested use of the word appeared in 1260 as mapole before Geoffrey Chaucer spelled it mapul in his Canterbury Tales a century later. A maple leaf along with samaras appears in the coat of arms of Sammatti, Finland. Hiroshima also uses the maple leaf as a ubiquitous symbol known locally as meibutsu.
Numerous maple cultivars selected for particular characteristics can be propagated only through asexual reproduction methods like cuttings or grafting. Acer palmatum alone has over 1,000 cultivars most selected in Japan. Some delicate cultivars are usually grown in pots and rarely reach heights exceeding 50 to 100 centimeters. Japanese maple trident maple Amur maple field maple and Montpellier maple respond well to bonsai techniques encouraging leaf reduction. Collections called aceretums occupy space in many gardens including Wakehurst Place Garden and Westonbirt Arboretum in England. The Esveld Aceretum in Boskoop Netherlands stands as the largest collection globally by number of species and cultivars. The Harvard-owned Arnold Arboretum in Boston features an especially notable aceretum within the United States. Homeowners and businesses plant these trees extensively due to their fall color and ease of transplanting.
Sugar maple wood often known as hard maple serves as the choice material for bowling pins and pool cue shafts. Maple bats were introduced to Major League Baseball in 1998 by Sam Holman who founded Sam Bat. Today it remains the standard maple bat used by professional baseball players though less common than ash or hickory. The back sides and neck of violins violas cellos and double basses are made from maple. Electric guitar necks commonly utilize maple for its dimensional stability while Les Paul guitars feature carved quilted or flamed maple tops. Many drums are constructed from maple with kits dominating production from the 1970s through the 1990s. Maple is also used to make bassoons and sometimes other woodwind instruments like recorders. Some drum sticks are crafted entirely from this dense wood type.
It takes about four liters of sugar maple sap to produce one liter of syrup during late winter thaw cycles. Quebec produces maple syrup worth approximately 500 million Canadian dollars annually. Sugar maples are most commonly used because many species lack sufficient sugar quantities for commercial use. Maple flowers provide a major source of pollen for honeybees before other plants flower in early spring. Dried wood from these trees is often used for smoking food while charcoal plays an integral role in the Lincoln County Process for Tennessee whiskey. The fibers have relatively thick walls that prevent collapsing upon drying giving good bulk and opacity in paper products. Bright autumn foliage drives leaf-watching traditions in countries like Japan where the custom is called momijigari. Seoraksan and Naejang-san mountains serve as popular destinations for viewing changing colors in Korea.
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Common questions
When did the genus Acer first appear in the fossil record?
The oldest known fossils of the genus Acer date back to the late Paleocene, approximately 60 million years ago. These ancient remains were discovered in Northeast Asia and northern North America.
What is the closest relative of the maple genus Acer?
The closest relative of this genus is Dipteronia, which has a fossil record extending back to the middle Paleocene in North America. Molecular studies suggest the group appeared first in the northeastern Palearctic region during the Late Paleocene.
Which countries have suffered destruction from the Asian long-horned beetle infestation on maples?
Infestations of the Asian long-horned beetle have resulted in the destruction of thousands of maples across Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Similar destruction occurred in Ontario, Canada following the discovery of this pest in September 2003.
How many species meet International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria for being under threat of extinction?
Fifty-four species meet International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria for being under threat of extinction in their native habitat. This count includes various species facing risks from pests like the Asian long-horned beetle and diseases such as Verticillium wilt.
When did the word maple first appear in recorded history?
The first attested use of the word appeared in 1260 as mapole before Geoffrey Chaucer spelled it mapul in his Canterbury Tales a century later. The design on the Canadian flag is an eleven-point stylization modeled after a sugar maple leaf which normally bears 23 points.