The maple trees are turning glorious colors in the arboretum. This week we are taking a look at the red maple (
Acer rubrum). This species has been represented in the collection since the very beginning. Currently, there are eight very healthy trees in the arboretum, six of which were collected by Ed Leuck from different spots in Caddo parish.
The specimen pictured below is a Louisiana native developed by a commercial grower. It was donated to the collection by Akins Nursery, and planted less than five years ago, which makes it our youngest red maple. This is a memorial tree, planted for a former Centenary student, Hunter Curphy.
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| This red maple is growing in the middle of a fairly steep slope. The Ratcliff gazebo sits on top of the hill, to the left. |
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| All the leaves are red at once. |
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| The long petioles are red, too. |
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| This tree produces mostly 5-lobed leaves (rather than 3-lobed). Red maple leaves have serrated edges and palmate venation. |
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| Underneath, the red maple leaf is white and feels like paper. |
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| Red maple leaves resemble sweet gum leaves. They are the same size and color, and they are both lobed with palmate venation. |
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| Underneath, the two leaves are noticeably different. The sweet gum leaf (pictured left) is waxy and red, while the red maple leaf is white and papery. |
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| This maple is still young. Its bark is smooth and gray. |
You can find additional photos of the arboretum's red maples
here.
For more information about this species consult the following:
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU AgCenter)
United States Department of Agriculture
University of Florida IFAS Extension
