Form and size: The crown is oval when the tree is young and round in old age. [Fig. 26].
Range: Eastern United States.
Soil and location: Moist and deep soil, and cool, shady positions.
Enemies: Subject to drouth, especially in cities. Is attacked by the sugar maple borer and the maple phenacoccus, a sucking insect.
Value for planting: Its rich and yellow color in the fall, and the fine spread of its crown make it a desirable tree for the lawn, especially in the country.
Commercial value: Its wood is hard and takes a good polish; used for interior finish and furniture. The tree is also the source of maple sugar. [Fig. 27].
Other characters: The bark is smooth in young trees and in old trees it shags in large plates. The flowers appear in the early part of April.
Other common names: The sugar maple is sometimes called rock maple or hard maple.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Distinguishing characters: The tips of the twigs curve upwards (Fig. 28), the bark is scaly, and the leaves are very deeply cleft and are silvery on the under side.