Red+Maple

= Red Maple = =// Acer rubrum //= Audio pronunciation here **Toxicity:** Fresh, wilted, and dried leaves are toxic to horses. .  ||   || media type="file" key="tree.3g2" width="300" height="300"
 * [[image:RedMAPLE.jpg height="222"]] || [[image:220px-Acer_rubrum.jpg width="176" height="200"]] || [[image:red_maple.JPG height="222"]] ||
 * Red Maple Bark || Red Maple Leaves || Red Maple Tree ||
 * **Leaf**: 2 to 5" opposite, simple leaf with 3 to 5 lobes; often triangular shape; Green in color; Fall Colors-yellow, yellow-green, orange to red
 * Form**: Pyramidal or elliptical when young; becomes more spreading with age, evenually developing a more or less rounded or oval outline; a medium to large tree, 40' to 70' tall, but can be over 100' tall
 * Fruit**: Small red flowers in dense clusters in late winter to early spring
 * Seeds:** The seed can germinate with very little light, seeds are very scarce.
 * Buds**: The red floral buds of Red Maple start to swell by mid-winter, and slowly expand in late winter and early spring to expose the interesting male and female flowers, which are wind-pollinated.
 * Bark**: young bark is smooth and light, ash-gray, almost silver; older branches and trunk are covered with scaly gray brown bark
 * Location**: Beach Valley Trail; N40 W80; Elevated 937 feet; Eastern United States and adjacent Canada
 * Economic/Ecological Importance:** Red maple is replacing trees that have high economic value. Its soft wood, color and grain aren't as highly valued as that of black cherry, oak and walnut. Humans use the lumber of this tree to create homes.
 * Range:** Eastern American coast spanning to southern parts of Canada. West as far as Minnesota and parts of Texas.