Common Name: Silver Maple
Scientific Name: Acer saccharinum
Family: Sapindaceae
Origin: Eastern, Central North America
Getting its common name from the silvery undersides of its leaves, silver maples are a medium to large tree that grows 50-80 feet high. They have a rounded and open canopy. Their leaves measure up to 6 inches across and have mild serrated margins. Leaves also usually have 5 lobes and are light green with silvery undersides. Before leafing out in the spring, trees send out polygamous flowers, having either unisexual or bisexual flowers on the same plant. Flowers are green to yellow in coloration. Pollinated female flowers result in fruit called samaras, which are sometimes referred to as helicopter seeds because of the aerodynamically shaped, two-finned, appearance of the seeds. This shape of the fruit aids in seed dispersal.