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Maple Trees...
Striped Maple:
Acer pensylvanicum L
Other names: Moosewood, Moose Maple, Snake Bark Maple.
Habitat: The Striped maple is native to Northeastern America. It is a shrubby shade tolerant tree which is often seen within the undergrowth of a forest.
Size and Form: The  short trunk is divided into a few branches forming a broad but uneven crown. The height can be up to 10 m with a diameter of 25 cm for a tree 100 years old. Ascending branches are forked, making the crown broad and uneven, The root system is shallow and spread widely.
 Leaves: The leaves are often wider than long and from 10 to 16 cm in measure. There are 3 lobes drawn out into narrow, pointed tips. Three main veins extend from the base. The center lobe is shaped like a triangle. A uniform double toothed pattern marks the edge of the pale yellow-green leaves which grow on stalks 3 - 8 cm in length. These leaves turn yellow in autumn.
Buds: The terminal bud is twice as long (about 10 mm) than its width. It is encased  by two prominent hairless scales that meet along the edges. The lateral buds are similar but smaller.
 Fruits
and Seeds: T he seed portion of the key is indented on one side. The keys appear clustered on short stalks with wings 25 to 30 mm long. The angle between the wings is about 90 degrees. The seeds mature in autumn turning light brown.
Flowers: Bell shaped and arranged along a central stem, drooping clusters of yellow flowers appear after the leaves are fully grown. The pollen flowers and seed flowers appear in separate clusters but may be on the same tree. The flowers are large compared to other varieties growing up to 6 mm in size with either five petals or sepals.
  Bark: It is distinctly marked when 1 or 2 years old by white vertical stripes on a smooth surface. The bark takes on a bumpy wart like texture and turns darker in colour as the tree matures. The stripes turn gray with age. Twigs are quite short and have a smooth hairless surface and are reddish green in colour.
 Wood: The wood is not used commercially. It is light brown in colour and low in strength. The wood is moderate light and soft.
Quick Recognition: The bark has distinctive vertical stripes on this short shrub like tree. The large leaves have 3 pointed lobes that are evenly double toothed.
Notes: Striped maple has the largest leaf of the eastern Canadian maples. Birds feed on the buds. Rabbits, beavers and porcupines eat the bark. The tree is nicknamed Moosewood since moose eat the young shoots and leaves.
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