Maple

Maple, common name for the deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Acer, found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Maples, which are characterized by their winged seeds, are noted for the breathtaking colors they produce in the fall. The North American sugar maple (A. saccharum) and the black maple (A. nigrum) are 2 of the species that provide the close-grained hardwood used for furniture making; they are also tapped to produce maple syrup. Two other members of the genus are the swamp, or red, maple (A. rubruni) and the box elder (A. negundo) tapped to produce maple syrup.