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Acer saccharinum
  • Silver Maple

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Acer genus in the family Aceraceae.

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Windbreak
    Windbreak
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Acer saccharinum has 0 edible uses listed
Acer saccharinum has 0 material uses listed
Acer saccharinum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The sap contains sugar and can be used as a drink or be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[1][2][3][4]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The yield is only half that of A. saccharum[5]. It is said to be sweeter and whiter than A. saccharum[6]. The sap can be harvested in the late winter, the flow is best on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates.

Self-sown seedlings, gathered in early spring, are eaten fresh or dried for later use[7][8]. Seeds - cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds boiled then eaten hot[8]. Good crops are produced nearly every year in the wild[9]. The seed is about 12mm long and is produced in small clusters[3].

Inner bark - cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread[10][11][7][12].

Inner bark

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Sap

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Unknown part

Sweetener

Material uses

The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them[13][14].

A fairly wind-tolerant tree, it can be used in shelterbelt plantings[15]. The branches are rather brittle, however, and can break off even in minor storms[16]. The stems are used in making baskets[12]. The boiled inner bark yields a brown dye[17]. Mixed with lead sulphate this produces a blue/black dye which can also be used as an ink[17]. A black dye is obtained from the twigs and bark[12]. The bark can be boiled, along with hemlock (Tsuga spp]) and swamp oak bark (Quercus bicolor) to make a wash to remove rust from iron and steel, and to prevent further rusting[12].

Wood - rather brittle, close-grained, hard, strong, easily worked but not durable. It weighs 32lb per cubic metre. It has many uses such as veneer, cooperage, furniture, flooring and pulp[18][19][3][20][21].

Unknown part

Dye
Preservative
Rust treatments
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

An infusion of the bark is used in the treatment of coughs, cramps and dysentery[12]. The infusion is also applied externally to old, stubborn running sores[12]. A compound infusion is used in the treatment of 'female complaints'[12].

The inner bark is boiled and used with water as a wash for sore eyes[12]. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea[12].

An infusion of the root bark has been used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[12].

Unknown part

Antispasmodic
Astringent
Ophthalmic
Skin
VD

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Windbreak

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the spring in a cold frame. It usually germinates immediately and by the end of summer has formed a small tree with several pairs of leaves[3]. Stored seed quickly loses its viability. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions.

Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus.

Cuttings of young shoots in June or July. The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Acer saccharinum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Of easy cultivation, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil[22][18] but does well in much wetter soils than most member of the genus. Succeeds in most soils including chalk[23]. Another report says that this species is liable to become chlorotic as a result of iron deficiency when it is grown on alkaline soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moderately sunny position[18][15]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[15]. Fairly wind-tolerant[15]. The wood is brittle and branches are liable to break off the tree in high winds[18][15]. Trees can tolerate short periods of flooding, but are very susceptible to fire[9].

A very ornamental[22] and fast growing tree[18][23], but it is short-lived[20], seldom surviving longer than 125 - 140 years[9]. The tree has invasive roots and these often interfere with sewer pipes and drainage tiles around houses[16].

The silver maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[13][14].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acer saccharinum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Acer saccharinum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Acer saccharinum
Genus
Acer
Family
Aceraceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[12]
Material uses & Functions
[13][14][15][16][12][17][18][19][3][20][21]
Botanic
[18][24][15]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Windbreak
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
30 x 15 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
  12. ? 12.0012.0112.0212.0312.0412.0512.0612.0712.0812.0912.1012.1112.12 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.115.215.315.415.515.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.116.2 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
  17. ? 17.017.117.2 Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-090-x (1975-00-00)
  18. ? 18.018.118.218.318.418.518.6 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  20. ? 20.020.120.2 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
  21. ? 21.021.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
  22. ? 22.022.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  23. ? 23.023.1 Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
  24. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Acer_saccharinum&oldid=74663"
Facts about "Acer saccharinum"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyAceraceae +
Belongs to genusAcer +
Functions asWindbreak +
Has common nameSilver Maple +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partInner bark +, Leaves +, Sap +, Seeds + and Unknown part +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Sweetener +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone3 +
Has imageSilber-Ahorn (Acer saccharinum).jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +, Preservative +, Rust treatments + and Wood +
Has mature height30 +
Has mature width15 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntispasmodic +, Astringent +, Ophthalmic +, Skin + and VD +
Has primary imageSilber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg +
Has search nameacer saccharinum + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameAcer saccharinum +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +