This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Acer saccharum nigrum
  • Black Maple

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

Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
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
    Acid to Alkaline
    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 saccharum nigrum has 0 edible uses listed
Acer saccharum nigrum has 0 material uses listed
Acer saccharum nigrum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The sap contains reasonable quantities of sugar and can be used as a drink or concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The sap can be harvested in late winter or early spring[[7], the flow is best on a warm sunny day after a frost. Trees on southern slopes in sandy soils give the best yields. It is best to make a hole about 7cm deep and about 1.3 metres above the ground[9]. Yields of 40 - 100 litres per tree can be obtained[7]. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates.

Seed - boiled then roasted[10][11][8]. The seed is about 6mm long and is produced in small clusters[12].

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[11][13].

Inner bark

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[14][15]. Wood - close grained, tough, hard, heavy. Used for furniture, ship building, etc[4][16][17][12][9]. It is a good fuel[12].

Unknown part

Fuel
Preservative
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[18].

Unknown part

Astringent

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it usually germinates in the following spring. A lot of the seed is non-viable, it is best to cut a few open to see if there is an embryo[19]. An average of 95% germination can be achieved from viable seed[20]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow to germinate, sometimes taking two years[21]. The seed can be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has dried and produced any germination inhibitors) and sown immediately. It should germinate in late winter. If the seed is harvested too soon it will produce very weak plants or no plants at all[22][19]. 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 saccharum nigrum. 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 but succeeds on most soils[3][20]. Chlorosis can often develop as a result of iron deficiency when the plants are grown in alkaline soils, but in general maples are not fussy as to soil pH. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Trees need full light and a lot of space[20].

Plants are hardy to about -45°c when fully dormant[23]. This species is not a great success in Britain[1], though it does better than once thought[3]. It grows well in Cornwall[24]. Slow growing when young[3]. Plants produce prodigious root growth but very little top growth in first year from seed[25]. Trees grow rapidly for their first 25 years in the wild, but then slow down and only occasionally surviving for more than 200 years[26]. A very ornamental tree[1] but a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[14][15].

This species is commercially exploited in America for its sap[1][3]. Along with A. saccharum and the sub-species A. s. grandidentatum it is the major source of maple syrup[3]. There are some named varieties[27]. The sap can be tapped within 10 - 15 years from seed but it does not flow so well in areas with mild winters[23].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acer saccharum nigrum. 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 saccharum nigrum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Acer saccharum nigrum
Genus
Acer
Family
Aceraceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Medicinal uses
[18]
Material uses & Functions
[14][15][4][16][17][12][9]
Botanic
[3][4][28]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
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
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    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
    slow
    Mature Size
    30 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press (1975-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (1975-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.4 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    14. ? 14.014.114.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    19. ? 19.019.1 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
    20. ? 20.020.120.2 Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
    21. ? ? The Plantsman. Vol. 5. 1983 - 1984. Royal Horticultural Society (1983-00-00)
    22. ? McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
    23. ? 23.023.1 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
    24. ? Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. ()
    25. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    26. ? Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
    27. ? Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    28. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)


    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Acer_saccharum_nigrum&oldid=74666"
    Facts about "Acer saccharum nigrum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAceraceae +
    Belongs to genusAcer +
    Has common nameBlack Maple +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partInner bark +, Sap +, Seeds + and Unknown part +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Sweetener +
    Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useFuel +, Preservative + and Wood +
    Has mature height30 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +
    Has search nameacer saccharum nigrum + 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 soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAcer saccharum nigrum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +