Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Acer saccharum
Sugar maple, Schneck's sugar maple
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Acer saccharum schneckii, Acer saccharum var. saccharum

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA PlantsITISThe Plant ListIPNI

Images

   
View all images. View all at PhytoImages.
Species Distribution
If map does not appear refresh browser Refresh
Click map to view & download detailed occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNAUSDA PlantsBONAPBISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; serrate, lobed (pinnately), lobed (palmately) leaf margin; Palmate leaf venation

Inflorescence: umbel

Flowers: 5 merous; incomplete, not petals; yellow, green; perigynous ovary position

Fruit: samara

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed on bluff escarpments; bluff bases; borders of limestone upland glades. Rich woodlands

ILPIN Notes: Wood is heavy, hard, and very close grained. Form - balled and burlapped, seedlings, whips, bare root. Seed company numbers: 2, 4, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 52. Terrestrial furbearers (especially squirrels) eat seeds, flowers, bark, twigs. This is a good den tree. Regarding small non-game bird food value, this pertains especially to evening grosbeaks. Sap is used for maple sugar. Species may also be monoecious. Flat leaves are nearly as broad or a little broader than long. Petioles and veins of lower leaf surfaces densely villous.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: insect
  • Dispersal: wind
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 4
  • Chicago Area: 3

Post a Comment or Question About this Plant
Name

Email address (required)

Comment? Question? 300 word limit (required)




Enter the text code above (required)

Note: All submissions are moderated and only some are posted. Posted comments may be edited for length. An email address will not be posted, but it is required for communication with the site moderator. Comments focused outside of Illinois and neighboring states may be posted, but more attention will be given to Illinois centered information. Thanks for your interest.