Botanical Name: Acer pensylvanicum
Family: Sapindaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Genus: Acer
Section: Acer sect. Macrantha
Species: A. pensylvanicum
Synonyms:
*Acer canadense Duhamel
*Acer tricuspifolium Stokes
Common Names: Moosewood, Striped maple, Moosewood, Pennsylvania Maple, Goosefoot maple
Habitat: The natural range extends from Nova Scotia and the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, west to southern Ontario, Michigan, and Saskatchewan; south to northeastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and along the Appalachian Mountains as far south as northern Georgia. It grows on moist rich woodlands, often by water, from sea level to 1,000 metres. Usually in the shade of other trees and occasionally forming a large part of the shrubby undergrowth.
Description:
Acer pensylvanicum is a small deciduous tree growing to 5–10 meters (16–33 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 20 cm (8 in) in diameter.The young bark is striped with green and white, and when a little older, brown.The leaves are broad and soft, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and 6–12 cm (2.5–4.5 in) broad, with three shallow forward-pointing lobes.The fruit is a samara; the seeds are about 27 mm (1.1 in) long and 11 mm (0.43 in) broad, with a wing angle of 145° and a conspicuously veined pedicel.The bloom period for Acer pensylvanicum is around late spring. The spelling pensylvanicum is the one originally used by Linnaeus.
Cultivation:
Landscape Uses:Erosion control. Of easy cultivation, it prefers a sunny position or light dappled shade and a good moist well-drained soil but succeeds on most soils, especially those on the acid side, and dislikes alkaline soils[182, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are hardy to about -25°c when they are fully dormant. A good tree for street planting. Most maples are bad companion plants, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants. Special Features:North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Edible Uses: Not Known to us.
Medicinal Uses:
A tea made from the inner bark is used in the treatment of colds, coughs, bronchitis, kidney infections, gonorrhoea and the spitting of blood. A wash is used externally on swollen limbs and as a wash for paralysis. A tea made from the leaves and twigs is used to both allay and induce vomiting, depending on the dosage.
Other Uses:
The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them. The wood is light, soft, close-grained and satiny, it weighs 33lb per cubic foot. It is not used commercially, though it is sometimes used for fuel.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_pensylvanicum
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acer+pensylvanicum
