Bigleaf maple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bigleaf maple |
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| Bigleaf maple foliage | |
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A. macrophyllum
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| Acer macrophyllum Pursh 1813
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Acer auritum Greene
Acer dactylophyllum Greene Acer flabellatum Greene 1912 not Rehder 1905 Acer hemionitis Greene Acer leptodactylon Greene Acer murrayanum Dippel Acer palmatum Raf. 1836 not Thumb. 1784 Acer platypterum Greene Acer politum Greene Acer stellatum Greene |
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The bigleaf maple, also called Oregon maple, is a very large tree. Its scientific name is Acer macrophyllum. It belongs to the maple family. This tree loses its leaves every year, which means it is a deciduous tree.
Bigleaf maples can grow super tall, sometimes over 150 feet (46 m)! But usually, they are about 50–65 feet (15–20 m) tall. You can find them in western North America. They mostly grow near the Pacific Ocean coast, from southern Alaska all the way to southern California. Some bigleaf maples also grow inland in the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California. A small group even lives in central Idaho.
Contents
What Does a Bigleaf Maple Look Like?
The bigleaf maple has the biggest leaves of any maple tree. Their leaves are usually 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) wide. They have five deep, finger-like parts, called lobes. The largest leaves can even reach 61 centimetres (24 in) across! In the fall, these huge leaves turn beautiful shades of gold and yellow. This looks amazing against the green conifer trees.
Flowers and Seeds
In spring, bigleaf maples grow flowers that hang down in clusters. These clusters are about 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long. The flowers are greenish-yellow and don't have bright petals. After the flowers, the tree makes special seeds. Each seed has a wing, like a tiny helicopter blade. These are called samaras. Each seed is about 1–1.5 centimetres (3⁄8–5⁄8 in) wide, and its wing is about 4–5-centimetre (1+5⁄8–2-inch) long.
Bark and Moss
In places where it's very wet, like in Olympic National Park, the bigleaf maple's bark is often covered with moss and ferns. These plants grow on the tree without harming it. They are called epiphytes.
Where Do Bigleaf Maples Grow?
Bigleaf maples sometimes grow together in groups, especially in wet soil near streams. But usually, you'll find them mixed in with other trees. They can grow under or among conifers, mixed evergreens, or oak trees. In cool, moist forests in California, they are one of the main types of trees. It's rare to find them naturally north of Vancouver Island. However, people do plant them in cities like Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, and Juneau.
How Bigleaf Maples Are Used
Bigleaf maples are important for both animals and people.
Food for Animals
Squirrels love to eat the winged seeds of the bigleaf maple. In winter, birds called grosbeaks also eat them. Young bigleaf maple trees are eaten by black-tailed deer, mule deer, and horses. One study in Oregon found that many young bigleaf maples were nibbled on by deer.
Maple Syrup
People can make maple syrup from the sap of bigleaf maple trees. It's not as common as using sugar maples because sugar maples have more sugar. But in some areas, like parts of British Columbia and along the West Coast, people do make syrup from bigleaf maples. It takes about 40 buckets of sap to make just one bucket of syrup!
Wood and Lumber
The bigleaf maple is the only important maple tree for wood on the Pacific Coast. Its wood is used for many things, like furniture, piano frames, and even salad bowls. Sometimes, the wood has beautiful patterns, which makes it great for fancy wood coverings called veneer. It's also used for musical instruments, like guitars, and gun stocks.
The inside wood, called heartwood, is light reddish-brown. It's fine-grained, not too heavy, and pretty strong. Native Americans used this wood to make paddles for their canoes. Sadly, in California, bigleaf maples are sometimes cut down and left behind when people harvest other trees like Douglas fir and redwood.
The Biggest Bigleaf Maples
There are special lists that track the biggest trees. The current national champion bigleaf maple lives in Lane County, Oregon. It's huge! Its trunk is about 38.6 feet (11.8 m) around, which means it's about 12.3 feet (3.7 m) wide. This giant tree stands 119 feet (36 m) tall, and its branches spread out 91 feet (28 m) wide.
The previous champion tree was in Marion, Oregon. It was about 25.4 feet (7.7 m) around (or 8.1 feet (2.5 m) wide). It was 88 feet (27 m) tall with a crown spread of 104 feet (32 m).
Oldest Trees in Europe
In May 2018, two very old bigleaf maples in Europe were removed. They were 175 years old and grew at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. One tree started to rot inside and fell during windy weather. The other tree was also sick, so it was cut down to prevent it from falling too.
Special Types of Bigleaf Maples
Some bigleaf maples have been specially grown for their unique looks. These are called cultivars:
- Mocha Rose: This type has leaves that change colors, showing different shades of pink throughout the year. It also has red flowers.
- Santiam Snows: This one has green leaves with white speckles, making them look like they're dusted with snow.
Gallery
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Bigleaf maple in early spring
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The 10–15-centimetre (4–6-inch)-long clusters of greenish-yellow flowers appear as the leaves are developing in the spring.
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Moss growing on a bigleaf maple in the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington
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A tall bigleaf maple in the McKenzie River valley in western Oregon
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"WORLD'S LARGEST BIGLEAF MAPLE" sign at English Camp on San Juan Island, Washington
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A fallen bigleaf maple leaf in the fall near Cashmere, Washington
See also
In Spanish: Arce de Oregón para niños
