Black Maple

Acer nigrum

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

▲ young tree at a golf course in Ft. Wayne, IN

▲ large tree in Springfield, MO

▲ ▼ leaves, with lower photo showing leaf-like stipules at base of leaf

▲ leaves showing characteristic "drooping" of side lobes

▲ fruit

Location near Missouri State University campus: large tree at southwest corner of Kings St. and Delmar

Acer nigrum: Black Maple

Leaves similar, but more pubescent, generally 3-lobed, and often with prominent stipules at the base of petiole; sides of leaves tend to droop downward
Buds more pubescent and more rounded than sugar maple buds
More lenticels on twigs, twigs more yellowish than sugar maple
Fall color is usually yellow or yellow-orange; usually not deep red-oranges of sugar maple
Black maples are similar to Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) and Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)