The Sweet Sugar Maple
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| The Sweet Sugar Maple |
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Maple Puzzle
Maple Coloring
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| GLOSSARY |
| Evaporators |
large pans used for driving off superfluous liquid as to concentrate sugar contents
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| Lobe |
a division or projection of a plant organ
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| Native |
belonging to a particular place
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| Petiole |
a slender stem that supports the foliage leaf
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| Samaras |
a one-seeded, winged tree fruit
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| Toothed |
having marginal projecting points |
The sweet Sugar Maple tree is one of the most common trees found in Ohio. It is a favorite shade tree to have in yards, but it is also a very valuable tree in the forests.
The sugar maple is native to the Midwestern and northeastern areas of the United State as well as southern Canada. When grown in open areas, this beautiful tree can grow as tall as 80 feet and as wide as 40 feet. When young, the sugar maple can grow well in shady areas, but it needs more sunlight as it grows larger.
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Maple flower photo: Paul Wray, Iowa State University
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The sugar maple has flowers that emerge just before the leaves. The paired samaras that result with the fertilization of the flowers hang from the branches all summer finally maturing in the autumn. As the samaras fall from the tree, they spin and twirl in the breeze. If not disturbed, these samaras will sprout into new trees!
The leaves of the sugar maple are lobed. There are typically two small lobes on either side of the petiole. The ends of the three larger lobes are lightly toothed, which makes them look a little like crowns.
The bright green leaves of the sugar maple turn bright shades of red, orange and yellow during the chilling autumn months. It is common to see these colors on the same tree as the color changes progress from the top to the bottom of the tree.
The wood of the sugar maple is very dense, making it ideal for wood flooring, furniture and musical instruments, like guitars and violins. The sap of the sugar maple is used to make maple syrup.
 During the months of February, March and early April, the sap of the sugar maple begins to flow up into the branches of the tree. During these months, sugar farmers tap a small hole into their sugar maple trees and collect some of the sap. This sap is then boiled in special pans called evaporators to eliminate excess water and make it into maple syrup.
Sap comes out of the tree made up mostly of water, with just a little sweetness. When the sap has boiled down to about one third water and two thirds sap, it has then become sweet syrup!
The Sugar Maple really is Sweet, isn't it?
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