# striped maple (*Acer pensylvanicum*) The striped maple is a small tree with beautiful green leaves and unique striped bark. It loves to grow in shady forests and is a great home for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Moosewood ![striped maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stiped_Maple_%284750636617%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stiped_Maple_%284750636617%29.jpg) ## Appearance The striped maple is a slender, understory tree easily identified by its smooth, green bark adorned with distinctive white or pale stripes. It has large, three-lobed leaves often compared to a goose's foot, which turn vibrant yellow in autumn. Its overall appearance is quite unique among North American maples. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples used parts of the striped maple for food and to make various tools or crafts! - Its scientific name, 'pensylvanicum,' means 'from Pennsylvania,' where it was first documented! - Some people call this tree 'goosefoot maple' because its large leaves look like a goose's foot! - The unique 'helicopter' seeds spin as they fall, helping them travel far from the parent tree! ## Special abilities - **Winter Photosynthesis:** Striped maple has smooth, green-striped bark that can perform photosynthesis, helping it create energy even before its leaves unfurl in spring. - **Shade Master:** The striped maple can thrive in deep forest shade, using its broad leaves to capture what little sunlight filters through the canopy. - **Early Sap Flow:** Striped maple has sap that flows early in spring, allowing animals like moose to gain vital nutrients when other food is scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-1500 cm - **Spread:** 300-800 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Browses on young twigs, leaves, and bark, especially in winter. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Forages on tender leaves and shoots, especially new growth. - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Yellowjacket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-yellowjacket) (*Vespula maculifrons*) — Visits the small, greenish-yellow flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [Black-capped Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-capped-chickadee) (*Parus atricapillus*) — Uses its branches for perching, nesting, and foraging for insects. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring forests and don't touch plants without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify striped maple? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is striped maple? 500-1500 cm ### How wide does striped maple spread? 300-800 cm ### How big are the flowers on striped maple? 0.5-1 cm ### When does striped maple bloom? Spring ### Is striped maple edible? Yes ### Is striped maple toxic? None ### What is striped maple's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Connecticut College Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/connecticut-college-arboretum) — Connecticut, US · Botanical Garden - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Hempstead Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hempstead-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see striped maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/striped-maple) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Striped Maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/striped-maple)