Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum
Sapindaceae or Soapberry Family
(the maples used to be separated out in their own family, the Aceraceae)
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Large tree with flaking bark. Leaves with 5
lobes, deeply notched between the lobes. All lobes
coarsely toothed. Leaves are green above, and silvery below. Flowers small, reddish, and clustered. Furits are paired samaras, gracefully curved downward,
forming a "helicopter." Blooms in early spring. Fall foliage usually yellow, to orange to red.
Native tree of floodplains and streamsides. Common along Connelly's Run. Sugar maple leaves are not as deeply notched and its samaras are bent sharply downward. Red maple leaves usually have only 3 main, and two smaller lobes, and the notches between lobes are relatively shallow.
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