Maple is a tree of amazing beauty, especially in autumn, when its crown shimmers with all shades of yellow-red. The color palette is very diverse, there are colors such as yellow, golden yellow, orange, brown red, purple, olive, lemon, orange red.
In different parts of the world there are varieties of maple, which are very different in crown, leaf shape, fruit shape and other features, although they belong to the same genus - maple (Acer L.), numbering about 160 species. Previously, maples belonged to the Maple family, now they have been placed in the Sapindaceae family.
How to identify the type of maple
Maple varieties can be distinguished by the shape of the leaves. The Norway maple has the outlines familiar to us - five lobes, the field maple has from three to five, the curled maple has up to nine, the Manchurian maple has three leaves on the petiole. Maple fruits are also different. Two-winged insects outwardly look like dragonfly wings, which in different species are at different angles: in small-leaved maple - at a straight line, in light maple the angle is obtuse, and in field maple the lionfish are located in a straight linelines.
How and where do maples grow
Usually maples are trees growing in height from 10 to 40 m, but there are also species of bush maples. In such shrubs, several branches diverge from the base of the trunk, sometimes reaching a height of ten meters. The maples we know are deciduous plants, but there are also evergreen maple species that grow in South Asia and the Mediterranean region.
The most complete all varieties of maple are presented in the mountainous regions of East Asia. Scientists suggest that it was from here that his resettlement to other places began. Maples grow in Europe, North and Central America, South Asia, North Africa. Interestingly, in Australia and South America, these trees do not occur at all.
Maples in Russia
In Russia, maple appeared several centuries ago, and the first was a species of maple, which was planted in monastic and boyar gardens. A little later, other types of maple began to be used in park culture - Tatar, Manchurian, ash-leaved. Now 20 species of maples are growing in the vastness of Russia, of which the most common are Tatar maple, white maple (pseudo-platan), field maple, Norway maple (plane-leaved).
The Norway maple is the most widespread. This is a tall tree (up to 28 m) with a dense spherical crown. In young trees, the bark is smooth, gray-brown, becoming almost black with time and covered with longitudinal cracks.
Field maple reaches a height of 15 m, hastrunk with brownish bark and dense spherical crown. It tolerates shearing well, so it is sometimes used for hedges, but more often for group and single plantings.
Tatar maple is a low tree with smooth, almost black, bark. It has an elegant appearance not only in autumn, but also in summer, when its numerous pink-red lionfish fruits ripen.
White maple (which is also called sycamore) can reach a height of 35 m. It has a wide domed crown. The bark on young trees is white, darkens and flakes off with age. Wood is used in the manufacture of musical instruments, for the production and decorative cladding of furniture.
How maple is used
In the old days in Russia in the spring, maple sap was obtained from maples and syrup was boiled. Now birch sap is extracted by a similar method, but maple sap has been forgotten. In Canada, maple is widely used for maple syrup production and further industrial production of sugar. The type of maple used for these purposes is called sugar maple, the leaf of which is depicted on the flag of Canada.
To obtain wood, maple varieties that grow in the area are used. So, in North America it is sugar maple, in European countries it is white maple.
Maple trees in Japan
In Japan, maple is especially revered as a symbol of greatness and eternity. It is often used to create bonsai. The palm-shaped maple is especially cultivated. Many of its garden forms have been bred, distinguished by a variety of leaf colors andbeauty of their form. Such maple plantations can be compared to the brightest flower arrangements.
The following varieties of maple are shown in the photo:
- photo 1 - field maple leaves;
- photo 2– white maple leaves;
- photo 3- Tatar maple;
- photo 4 – sugar maple;
- photo 5 - Japanese maples.
