Trees of Indiana Field Guide (Tree Identification Guides) - Tapa blanda

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Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 190 field guides, nature books, children’s books, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

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Red Maple
Acer rubrum

Family: Maple (Aceraceae)

Height: 40–60' (12–18 m)

Tree: single trunk, narrow dense crown

Leaf: lobed, 3–4" (7.5–10 cm) long, oppositely attached, 3–5 lobes (usually 3), shallow notches in between lobes, double-toothed margin, light green color, red leafstalk

Bark: gray, smooth, broken by narrow irregular cracks

Flower: tiny red hanging flower, .25" (.6 cm) wide, on a 1–2" (2.5–5 cm) long red stalk, growing in clusters, 1–3" (2.5–7.5 cm) wide

Fruit: pair of winged seeds (samara), red in springtime, .5–1" (1–2.5 cm) long

Fall Color: red to orange

Origin/Age: native; 75–100 years

Habitat: wet to moist soils, along swamps or depressions that hold water, sun to partial shade

Range: throughout

Stan’s Notes: One of the most drought-tolerant species of maple in Indiana. Often planted as an ornamental, it can be identified by its characteristic leaves, which have three pointed lobes and red stalks. The common name comes from the obvious red flowers that bloom early in spring, but the flowers and leafstalks are not the only red colors it has. New leaves, fall color and spring seeds are also red. Produces one of the smallest seeds of any of the maples. Also called Swamp Maple, Water Maple or Soft Maple, the latter being used to refer to the Silver Maple(pg. 179) as well. Even though it is sometimes called Soft Maple, its wood is very hard and brittle.