Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
This fast-growing tree is one of the most commonly found in our area. It is also quite easy to identify by its leaf shape and location, favoring wet woodlands. It is quite short-lived, so it is not used as a landscaping tree. Red flowers in spring and bright red leaves in autumn give this tree its name. The maple’s thin bark makes it susceptible to fire, but since fires are well-controlled now, the red maple is becoming much more common in our forests. Samaras, the winged seeds, allow the seeds to travel in the air. Its leaves are poisonous to horses.
Leaves
Three to five lobed leaves, with a V at the base of each. They turn red early in fall.
Fruit
Appears in May and June. Seeds are within the paired samaras.
Flowers
Red flowers in March and April.
Have You Noticed?
There is a flooded red maple swamp on Route 121 in Bedford. Beavers flooded this swamp, killing off the red maple trees.
Habitat
Prefers wet and moist soils. This is the dominant tree in our Red Maple Swamps. These swamps are found in very wet, very low elevations across Lewisboro. Wetland soil makes up about 20% of Lewisboro and that is a good proxy for the percentage of red maples growing in town. A fine example of an extensive red maple swamp is found along Route 121 at the Rose Preserve.
Leaves
Three to five lobed leaves, with a V at the base of each. They turn red early in fall.
Bark
Smooth grey bark, becomes fissured with age.
Fruit
Appears in May and June. Seeds are within the paired samaras.
Flowers
Red flowers in March and April.
Ecosystem Connections
This is a brittle tree which makes it important for wildlife. Its broken limbs provide nesting opportunities for many cavity dwelling birds, including bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, tree swallows, owls, woodpeckers and more. The caterpillars of many moths and butterflies use the maple leaves as food.
Human Connections
The wood is more soft than that of other maples. It is not the best tree for maple syrup, but can be used in its production. The grain of the wood can be decorative and is used in veneers.
Male Flowers
Credit: Famartin
Samaras, the winged seeds
Fall Colors
More on Trees and Shrubs in Lewisboro
Lewisboro was once entirely forested except for patches of open field caused by fire and wetlands and ponds which were expanded by beaver dams. Although it is hard to believe, by 1800 most of Lewisboro’s forests had been cut down and replaced by farms. In 1820 so many trees had been cleared that there was no shade anywhere along the route from Boston to New York.[1] But by the mid-1800’s farming here became uneconomical and as farms were abandoned, the forests began to re-grow. Today, 70% of New York is once again forest, what some call ‘the great environmental story of the United States’[2]. These new forests provide us with beauty and recreation, clean air and water, flood control, erosion prevention, carbon sequestration, cooler temperatures and habitat for other plants, insects, birds and other wildlife.
[1] Cronon, William. Changes in the Land. Macmillan, 1983.
[2] An Explosion of Green. B. Mckibben. Atlantic Monthly 275 (April 1995): 61-83.