Acer rubrum

Red Maple

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]

Family: Sapindaceae

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: January - May
Mid-Atlantic fruit ripe: April - July

The young bark on Red Maple trunks is smooth gray; older bark is rough and platelike. As a consequence, trees often have the lower portion of their trunk rough, transitioning to smooth bark above. Red Maple flowers, buds and young twigs are reddish. Flowers typically appear before leaves in the spring. Its winged seeds, typical of the Maple genus, are called samaras.

13 Marcy 2021 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA	7 March 2016 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA (male flowers)	27 March 2016 Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, Nokesville, VA (female flowers with 2 protruding stigmas on each)	27 March 2016 Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, Nokesville, VA (early samaras)
22 March 2020 Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA	30 April 2015 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA (mid-mature samaras)	4 May 2015 Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA (mature samaras)	4 May 2015 Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA (heavy crop of mature samaras)
4 May 2015 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (note reddish petioles on leaves)	4 May 2015 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA (note reddish petioles on leaves)

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