Acer glabrum

Acer glabrum Torr.

by David Logan, Native Plants of Arizona 2004

Common names: Rocky Mountain maple, dwarf maple, mountain maple, Douglas maple (1, 2, 3).
Family: Aceraceae (1, 2, 3).
Synonymy: Acer glabrum ssp. glabrum , Acer glabrum var. diffusum , Acer glabrum ssp. neomexicanum (1, 4).
Etymology: Acer meaning “sharp”, glabrum meaning “glabrous” (5).

Identification
Growth form: Shrub or small tree to 25' (3, 4, 6).
Roots: Wide, spreading root system with a combination of deep and lateral woody roots (4).
Stem: To 1' in diameter, often multi-stemmed (3, 4).
Leaves: Deciduous, to 3” long and wide, 3- to 5-lobed, sharp-toothed margins, red petioles (3, 4, 6).
Inflorescence/flowers: Green-yellow, clustered, in loose terminal cymes arising from lateral buds, monoecious or dioecious (3, 7).
Fruit: Winged samara to 1” long, V-shaped (3, 4, 6, 7).
Similar species: Acer grandidentatum has larger leaves with few blunt-tipped teeth on margins (3, 6).

Ecology
Life history: Woody perennial.
Native/introduced: Native to the Western United States.
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: Flowers late April to late June (3, 4).
Distribution: Western U.S., 5000-9000', moist areas, especially near streams and drainages, in Ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests (in Arizona ) (3, 4). Often found at lower elevations throughout the rest of the Western U.S. (4).

Uses
Seeds eaten by rodents (3, 4). Foliage browsed by deer, elk, and cattle (3, 4, 7). Valuable ornamental in western states due to its drought and heat tolerance. Recommended for riparian revegetation efforts and for use on cut slopes and roadsides (4).

References

1. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. ( http://plants.usda.gov ). National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , Louisiana 70874-4490 USA .

2. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) ( http://www.itis.usda.gov ).

3. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona . Falcon Publishing. Helena, Mountana.

4. USFS Database: Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
(http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/acegla/index.html ).

5. Hardin, J.W., Leopold, D.J., and F.M. White. 2001. Textbook of Dendrology. 9 th edition. McGraw-Hill. New York , New York .

6. Whitney, Stephen. 1996. A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon . The Mountaineers. Seattle , WA .

7. Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren , N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1989. Intermountain flora, vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume 3, Part B. The New York Botanical Garden , Bronx , NY .

Acer glabrum Torr. by David Logan, Native Plants of Arizona 2004 Common names: Rocky Mountain maple, dwarf maple, mountain maple, Douglas maple (1, 2, 3). Family: Aceraceae (1, 2, 3). Synonymy: Acer glabrum ssp. glabrum , Acer glabrum var. diffusum , Acer glabrum ssp. neomexicanum (1, 4). Etymology: Acer meaning “sharp”, glabrum meaning “glabrous” (5). Identification Growth form: Shrub or small tree to 25' (3, 4, 6). Roots: Wide, spreading root system with a combination of deep and lateral woody roots (4). Stem: To 1' in diameter, often multi-stemmed (3, 4). Leaves: Deciduous, to 3” long and wide, 3- to 5-lobed, sharp-toothed margins, red petioles (3, 4, 6). Inflorescence/flowers: Green-yellow, clustered, in loose terminal cymes arising from lateral buds, monoecious or dioecious (3, 7). Fruit: Winged samara to 1” long, V-shaped (3, 4, 6, 7). Similar species: Acer grandidentatum has larger leaves with few blunt-tipped teeth on margins (3, 6). Ecology Life history: Woody perennial. Native/introduced: Native to the Western United States. Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Flowers late April to late June (3, 4). Distribution: Western U.S., 5000-9000', moist areas, especially near streams and drainages, in Ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests (in Arizona ) (3, 4). Often found at lower elevations throughout the rest of the Western U.S. (4). Uses Seeds eaten by rodents (3, 4). Foliage browsed by deer, elk, and cattle (3, 4, 7). Valuable ornamental in western states due to its drought and heat tolerance. Recommended for riparian revegetation efforts and for use on cut slopes and roadsides (4). References 1. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. ( http://plants.usda.gov ). National Plant Data Center , Baton Rouge , Louisiana 70874-4490 USA . 2. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) ( http://www.itis.usda.gov ). 3. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona . Falcon Publishing. Helena, Mountana. 4. USFS Database: Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/acegla/index.html ). 5. Hardin, J.W., Leopold, D.J., and F.M. White. 2001. Textbook of Dendrology. 9 th edition. McGraw-Hill. New York , New York . 6. Whitney, Stephen. 1996. A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon . The Mountaineers. Seattle , WA . 7. Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren , N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1989. Intermountain flora, vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume 3, Part B. The New York Botanical Garden , Bronx , NY .