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EXPLORE > PLANTS > ANGIOSPERMS
Acer macrophyllum
As the name suggests, this tree has the largest leaves of any maple species with some leaves growing as much as a foot (30 cm) across. Its crown is rounded and forms an open canopy. The bark is generally light brown, craggy and often covered with moss and lichen. The leaves have the well-known maple contour, which includes five deeply incised lobes with sharp points. Leaves are typically bright green. In the spring, the tree will produce drooping bundles of yellowish-green flowers and small seeds.
The bigleaf maple produces as much sugary sap as the better known sugar maple. This sap can be rendered into syrup although it has a slightly different flavor and is not as popular. The tree is also an important source of lumber in the Pacific Northwest where it is used mostly to produce furniture and musical instruments.
Distribution
The bigleaf maple can be found in a narrow strip along the west coast of North America from British Columbia to southern California. Requiring high moisture levels, these trees often form pure stands near streams and other riparian areas. They are more dispersed in mixed-hardwood forests, growing alongside various conifers and oaks. Although the species prefers colder climates, it does not tolerate deep soil freezes, which limits its northern range.
Conservation Status
Common.
Acer macrophyllum
As the name suggests, this tree has the largest leaves of any maple species with some leaves growing as much as a foot (30 cm) across. Its crown is rounded and forms an open canopy. The bark is generally light brown, craggy and often covered with moss and lichen. The leaves have the well-known maple contour, which includes five deeply incised lobes with sharp points. Leaves are typically bright green. In the spring, the tree will produce drooping bundles of yellowish-green flowers and small seeds.
The bigleaf maple produces as much sugary sap as the better known sugar maple. This sap can be rendered into syrup although it has a slightly different flavor and is not as popular. The tree is also an important source of lumber in the Pacific Northwest where it is used mostly to produce furniture and musical instruments.
Distribution
The bigleaf maple can be found in a narrow strip along the west coast of North America from British Columbia to southern California. Requiring high moisture levels, these trees often form pure stands near streams and other riparian areas. They are more dispersed in mixed-hardwood forests, growing alongside various conifers and oaks. Although the species prefers colder climates, it does not tolerate deep soil freezes, which limits its northern range.
Conservation Status
Common.
