Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
Bigleaf Maple is a large deciduous tree, stretching up to 35 meters tall, though more commonly growing 15-20 meters. The multiple trunks, ranging from 1-5 in number, are wide — up to a meter in diameter — and covered in furrowed bark, gray to reddish-brown in color. The slender trunks stretch up to a broad, rounded crown composed of many large leaves. In older trees, the lateral branches, which extend straight out from high up on the trunk, curve upward, becoming vertical limbs. The dark, glossy green leaves are the largest maple leaves in the world, reaching up to 2 feet in diameter, though usually closer to 15–30 centimeters (6–12 inches) in size. The palmate leaves have 5 deep lobes, each of which tapers to a point. Along the edges of each lobe, there are typically some smaller points as well. In fall, the leaves turn a brilliant yellow before browning from the tips of the lobes inwards. The leaves’ long stems are dark to bright red. The almost indistinguishable flowers are produced on dense, dangling racemes — a central stem along which flowers bloom. The flowers themselves are small and white, unlike the greenish-yellow racemes, and are a mere 1-3 mm in diameter. The fruit, which grows in abundant clusters amongst the leaves, is a paired winged samara. The 1-1.5 cm seed is encased in a central pod, from which extend two 4-5 cm papery brown wings. When the fruit is fresh, it is covered in fleshy green hairs.
Basic Information
Member of the Aceraceae, or maple, family
Deciduous
Habitat
Native to the Pacific northwest from California to southern Canada
Commonly found along the coast in riparian areas, such as stream banks and moist canyons, adjacent to grassland and woodland ecosystems including chaparral, redwood forests, mixed woods, and pine forests
Ecological Role
Tree’s flowers are fertilized by insects
The fruits are eaten by squirrels and grosbeaks
Deer mice occasionally consume the seeds in spring
Foliage consumed by large mammals such as black-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk, as well as by rodents such as mountain beavers and other rodents
A western Oregon study found that 60% of bigleaf maple seedlings over 10 inches tall had been browsed by deer
Habitat for the barred owl and, likely, the Hammond's flycatcher
Reproduction
Blooms from April-May
Produces a bisexual raceme, which has both male and female flowers
Alternative Names
Big-leaf Maple, Oregon Maple
Historical Uses
This plant was widely used by Native American and First Nations tribes
The wood was frequently used for:
House construction
Firewood
Dishes
Canoe paddles
Toys and games
The pliant inner bark and sapwood was often used for:
Basketry
Ropes and cordage
Crude clothing
The leaves were often used to cover fire pits, which would flavor the cooking food
Additional Information
This tree is only western maple with wood of commercial importance, as a result it is often cut down in unsustainable numbers, which can cause environmental damage
Luckily, the tree is fast growing and populous, so it is not endangered, but habitat damage seriously affects the ecosystem
Maple sugar can be obtained from the sap
The flowers are sweet and edible and can be used in salads
Young shoots can be eaten raw in the spring
