Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

 The red maple is just one of the many maples common to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere.  In all, there are 113 species of maples.  The maple’s distinctive leaves are simple, lobed (three to five lobes) that are arranged opposite from each other on the twig which makes maples easy to recognize. The red has one of the broadest of the maple leaves. Its flower is one of the first to be seen in the spring and appears before the leaves.  The abundant winged seeds fall like tiny helicopters.

 Red maple is often called “soft maple” by people who live where it is common.  As with all maples, it is highly prized for its wood. These are the colorful leaves that help paint the autumn forests.