Acer gradidentatum

Acer grandidentatum Nutt.

Common names : Bigtooth maple, canyon maple, canyon sugar maple
Family : Aceraceae
Synonymy : Acer saccharum, var. grandidentatum, Acer saccharum ssp. grandidentatum, Acer saccharum ssp sinuosum (3).
Etymology: Grandidentatum means “large tooth”, and refers to the leaf (1).

Identification
Growth form : Tree, sometimes shrubby. Matures at 10-15 ft-may reach up to 40 ft (2).
Roots : Shallow but widespread (4)
Stem : Dark brown bark
Leaves: Deciduous. Opposite, petioled, 3-5 lobed. Slightly cordate with broad sinuses, 2-3 in. across, pubescent beneath, coriaceous, lobes acute or obtuse, entire or slightly 3 lobed (2).
Inflorescence/flowers : Corymbs few flowered, hairy, short stalked (3) Bigtooth maple flowers are wind pollinated. Plants may bear male flowers only or produce both male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. Three flowering phenotypes exist and include plants which are (1) bisexual each year, (2) bisexual one year and unisexual with male flowers the other years, or (3)unisexual with male flowers each year. Trees which change their sex expression from year to year tend to be unisexual, with only male flowers in dry years and bisexual in wetter years. Trees with only male flowers are also more common on xeric versus mesic sites. Plants usually flower every 2 or 3 years (3).
Fruit : Double winged samara
Similar species :

Ecology

Life history: Perennial
Native/Introduced : native
Phenology : Likes mountain washes, canyons
Distribution : In mountainous areas from southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming south to Arizona , New Mexico , western Texas , and northern Mexico . In Arizona and New Mexico , bigtooth maple also occurs with cottonwoods (Populus spp.), ashes (Fraxinus spp.), alders (Alnus spp.), and willows (Salix spp.), forming riparian deciduous woodlands (3).

Uses
Human As a relative of the sugar maple Acer saccharum, A. grandidentatum springtime sap can be used to make maple syrup. The hardwood provides good firewood. The foliage is colorful in the autumn. The leaves provide shade and are ornamental.

References :

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , native plant information service. http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Plants/Detail.asp?Scientific_Name=Acer%20grandidentatum ( June 30, 2005 ).
Bailey, Liberty Hyde. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. Volume 1, A-E . The Macmillan Company, NY. 1917.
USDA Forest Service Plant database. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/acegra/all.html ( June 30, 2005 ).

Acer grandidentatum Nutt. Common names : Bigtooth maple, canyon maple, canyon sugar maple Family : Aceraceae Synonymy : Acer saccharum, var. grandidentatum, Acer saccharum ssp. grandidentatum, Acer saccharum ssp sinuosum (3). Etymology: Grandidentatum means “large tooth”, and refers to the leaf (1). Identification Growth form : Tree, sometimes shrubby. Matures at 10-15 ft-may reach up to 40 ft (2). Roots : Shallow but widespread (4) Stem : Dark brown bark Leaves: Deciduous. Opposite, petioled, 3-5 lobed. Slightly cordate with broad sinuses, 2-3 in. across, pubescent beneath, coriaceous, lobes acute or obtuse, entire or slightly 3 lobed (2). Inflorescence/flowers : Corymbs few flowered, hairy, short stalked (3) Bigtooth maple flowers are wind pollinated. Plants may bear male flowers only or produce both male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. Three flowering phenotypes exist and include plants which are (1) bisexual each year, (2) bisexual one year and unisexual with male flowers the other years, or (3)unisexual with male flowers each year. Trees which change their sex expression from year to year tend to be unisexual, with only male flowers in dry years and bisexual in wetter years. Trees with only male flowers are also more common on xeric versus mesic sites. Plants usually flower every 2 or 3 years (3). Fruit : Double winged samara Similar species : Ecology Life history: Perennial Native/Introduced : native Phenology : Likes mountain washes, canyons Distribution : In mountainous areas from southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming south to Arizona , New Mexico , western Texas , and northern Mexico . In Arizona and New Mexico , bigtooth maple also occurs with cottonwoods (Populus spp.), ashes (Fraxinus spp.), alders (Alnus spp.), and willows (Salix spp.), forming riparian deciduous woodlands (3). Uses Human As a relative of the sugar maple Acer saccharum, A. grandidentatum springtime sap can be used to make maple syrup. The hardwood provides good firewood. The foliage is colorful in the autumn. The leaves provide shade and are ornamental. References : Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , native plant information service. http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Plants/Detail.asp?Scientific_Name=Acer%20grandidentatum ( June 30, 2005 ). Bailey, Liberty Hyde. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. Volume 1, A-E . The Macmillan Company, NY. 1917. USDA Forest Service Plant database. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/acegra/all.html ( June 30, 2005 ).