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Opis:
Locally known as Striped Maple it is may be best known as Moosewood across its northern range. Acer pensylvanicum reaches its southern most range down through the spine of the Appalachian Mountains were it occurs at higher elevation. Generally above 2500 feet. It may be one of the easist trees to identify by its bark because of the green bark background marked with prominent white vertical stripes. In some areas this coloration may appear very dark but with a similar pattern. The tree is also known as Goosefoot because its maple-shaped leaf is analogous to the shape of a goose's foot. The leaf does have a 3-lobed characteristic maple leaf shape to it with a coarsely serrated edge. The leaves are large and generally larger than most maples. The trees do not grow very large and are an understory tree thriving in the shade in the mature forest. Striped maples have a peculiar abiltiy to change sex. Most of the trees observed on this hike were male. Apparently male trees for some reason do better and survive longer than female trees. It seems that one male trees get older or stressed by disease or other environmental factors they will switch from being a tree with male flowers to a tree that produces female flowers and will than produce seeds. The seeds have the classic maple-winged shape. My nature education channel is devoted to environmental education and teaching natural history. If you are interested in learning more about nature and the plants and animals that you can find just outside your door, this is the channel to view.
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