Maple Saplings

Family: Aceraceae (Maple Family)

Genus: Acer

Description: The maple family comprises just two genera but about 1200 species; Leaves opposite, simple and palmately veined; sometimes compound (as in the Boxelder), and changing color in the fall; The more mature trees possess distinctive fruits called samaras, which are paired, winged seeds that spin to the earth like that of a helicopter’s rotor; All maples produce sap in late winter and early spring, but only the Sugar Maple produces sap that is high enough in sugar content to make it of commercial interest.