Vine maple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vine maple |
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A. circinatum
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| Acer circinatum Pursh 1813
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The vine maple (scientific name: Acer circinatum) is a special type of maple tree. It grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from southwestern British Columbia in Canada all the way down to northern California in the United States.
This tree usually grows close to the Pacific Ocean coast, within about 300 kilometers (186 miles). It is also found in places like the Columbia River Gorge and coastal forests. The vine maple is part of a group of maples called Palmatum. Most trees in this group are from East Asia. The vine maple is the only one from this group that lives outside of Asia. Its closest relatives are the Fullmoon Maple and the Korean Maple.
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What Does Vine Maple Look Like?
Vine maples often grow as large shrubs. They usually reach about 5 to 8 meters (16 to 26 feet) tall. Sometimes, they can grow into small to medium-sized trees, even up to 18 meters (59 feet) tall! Their young branches are thin and smooth.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant usually grows in the forest under the shade of much taller trees. But you can also find it in open areas. It grows from sea level up to about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) high.
Its Unique Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the vine maple grow in pairs, one across from the other. They are shaped almost like a circle and have 7 to 11 pointed sections, called lobes. Each leaf is about 3 to 14 centimeters (1 to 5.5 inches) long and wide. The edges of the lobes have small teeth. The underside of the leaves is slightly fuzzy.
In the fall, these leaves turn beautiful bright yellow to orange-red colors. The flowers are small, about 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.35 inches) across. They have a dark red cup-like part (called a calyx) and five short, greenish-yellow petals. The flowers grow in clusters of 4 to 20 together in the spring.
The Fruit of the Vine Maple
The fruit of the vine maple is called a samara. It has two seeds, each about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each seed has a long, flat wing, about 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. These wings help the seeds spin and fly away from the tree when they fall.
How Vine Maple Grows in a Special Way
Vine maple trees are very flexible. Their branches can bend easily. Sometimes, a branch will bend so much that its tip touches the ground. When this happens, the tip can grow new roots into the soil. This creates a natural arch, making the tree look like it's looping back into the ground. This special way of growing new roots from a branch is called layering. The vine maple is the only maple tree that can do this naturally.
Uses of Vine Maple
Vine maple is sometimes planted in gardens and parks outside of where it naturally grows. People like it as an ornamental tree because of its beautiful fall colors. You can find it growing in places like Juneau, Alaska, Ottawa, Ontario, and even in northwestern Europe.
Various birds and small animals like to eat the seeds of the vine maple.
Images for kids
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Vine Maple bonsai.
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Flower with reddish calyx and five short petals.
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The fruit is borne in pairs. With wings nearly 180 degrees apart, it is initially green, later becoming reddish (shown) to brown.
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Autumn foliage of Acer circinatum.
See also
In Spanish: Arce enredadera para niños
