turtless's Identifications

ID -Black- Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) - Leaves are simple and grow oppositely on the stem. Leaves will have three to five lobes ending in long points with toothed edges and separated by deep, angular openings. The color of the leaf is pale green on the upper surface and silvery underneath. The terminal and lateral buds are rounded and red or reddish-brown. Seeds form in a pair of winged seeds which are called samaras, these samaras are 1" to 2" in length. Silver maple forms a broad, rounded crown. The bark of young branches will be smooth and varying in color from reddish to yellow-gray. On older branches, bark will appear dark gray and broken into long flakes or scales

Weather - On the day of observation, it was cloudy, and the temperature was 73 degrees F, with a high of 74 and a low of 62 for the day. Humidity was at 82% with a wind speed of 3 mph from the SE with 0.0 in of precipitation.

Notes - Native to the eastern United States, Upper Lakes States, into the Plains States, and also in California. They often grow where very few other trees will and thus offer an option for sites of poor quality. It is not recommended for these trees to be planted in street boulevards because they have softwood and are prone to decay. In the wild, they grow along rivers and on floodplains; this is a tree that likes getting their feet wet. Best if planted in a yard, park, or low spot. Used by game birds, small mammals, and songbirds. Another species in the area was an American Sycamore.