Red Maple

I saw this Red Maple (Acer rubrum) while photographing some of the wildlife around Worthen Road, around the Captain Parker Arms Area. This is one of the most common native trees in Eastern North America, and is the maple tree that produces a famous bright red fall coloration. These trees are tall, and grow to around 90 feet. These are some of the first trees to flower at the end of winter, which is when I photographed them. Red Maples produces many small bunches of red flowers that darken over time, until they reach a more burgundy color. Their leaves have 3-5 lobes, and along with the shoots of the tree, provide food for mammals like rabbits and deer. Their fruits have paired wings, and are often seen spinning through the air in the fall. These seeds provide food for squirrels.

Fun Fact: The sap that Red Maple trees produce can be used to make syrup! They are among the most common species of Maple tree used to make Maple Syrup!

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018). Red maple. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopæddia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/red-maple