The fungus can only flourish in very clean air, so it’s a great environmental indicator for air quality. Although it doesn’t look so nice, and the trees probably aren’t too happy about it, spotting this is actually a positive sign. This sample is also adorned with black spots rather than a consequence of autrumn colour changes, this is actually a fungus that becomes an increasingly common sight. The blood-red pigments are merely a by-product of this. Norway maples produce and release chemicals to hinder the growth of nearby saplings. This is the scientific name for a sneaky trick the tree has up its sleeve to fend off competition for resources from nearby trees. There’s a dark side to this beauty actuall,y this red pigment is produced as a side-effect of something called allelopathy.
Norway Maple leaves are some of the first to change colour, turning a blazing scarlet that illuminates streets, parks and woodlands. In Autumn, the leaves become much easier to tell apart.
NORWAY MAPLE LEAVES FULL
In looking at the full trees, Sycamores also tend to grow higher. In fact, although not the same species, it looks very similar to the Maple leaf on the Canadian flag. The main difference is that the Norway Maple has a significantly more jagged edge, and a glossier surface. Repeat when necessary to control re-growth from sprouts.The picture above shows a Norway Maple leaf on the left and a Sycamore leaf on the right. Seedlings can be pulled by hand and small to large trees can be cut to the ground. Norway maple samaras resemble a coat hanger sugar maple samaras resemble horseshoes. Norway maple leaves have deeper sinuses between the lobes than those found on sugar maples. The fruits are also similar in appearance the paired “samaras” have widely-spaced wings that spin and flutter in the wind when falling from the tree. Additionally, their leaf shape and branching pattern are very similar to native sugar and red maples. How can I identify it?īecause Norway maples are so widespread throughout the northeastern US, they are often overlooked as a native species. When seeds land in garden beds or other open areas, they germinate readily in the following spring. It produces large numbers of seeds that are dispersed by the wind. It grows more quickly than the native sugar maple, and apparently reproduces more quickly as well. Norway maple flowers early in the spring, before many native North American trees and shrubs, which may favor its ability to spread. Seventeen states, including Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware, classify it as and invasive plant species. These characteristics have led New Hampshire and Massachusetts to ban Norway maples. It has a shallow root system, and its dense canopy suppresses growth of grasses and seedlings beneath it.
It also tolerates compacted soils and urban environments. It tolerates a wide range of light conditions (from full sun to part shade) and soil types (growing in clays, loams, and sandy soils, tolerating both acidic and alkaline conditions). The Norway maple is a fast-growing deciduous tree that commonly grows to 40-50 feet in height, but may grow as tall as 100 feet. It has spread as reforestation occurred across the Northeast, and has also escaped from town plantings. The leaves are dark green above, and lighter beneath. The leaves are 4-7 inches (10 -18 cm.) in length, and they possess shallow sinuses with a few long teeth. It was also a popular choice in the mid-twentieth century to replace dying American Elm trees in cities and towns.įrom there, it has spread throughout the northeastern US, from Maine to Wisconsin, south to Tennessee and Virginia, and to the Pacific Northwest. Leaves: Norway maple has palmately compound opposite leaves with five lobes. It was planted on farms and in towns and became a popular choice for its hardiness, adaptability to harsh conditions, and its lush canopy and generous shade. It was first introduced to North America in 1756, when John Bartram of Philadelphia imported trees for sale as ornamental landscaping plants. Its natural range stretches from western France in the east to central Russia in the west, and from southern Scandinavia to northern Turkey. The Norway maple ( Acer platanoides) is native to Europe. The Norway maple is so conspicuous throughout the United States that it is often easy to forget that it is an introduced species that can adversely affect the environment.
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