How to Identify Maple Trees by Their Bark
Out of more than 100 maple tree species, fourteen grow naturally in the United States. While there are several characteristic to use to distinguish maple trees from other trees, some of these traits do not govern all maple species. Bark can be used to distinguish many types of maples from other trees and other maple species, especially during the winter when leaves and seeds are not available to assist in other identification methods.
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Instructions
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Identify silver maple trees by examining the bark for a smooth texture and grayish-brown color. Bear in mind that silver maple tree bark grows darker as the tree ages and becomes furrowed with deep wrinkles that separate the bark into scaly, long flakes.
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Classify the boxelder as a maple tree by seeking out trees with light brown or pale gray bark that has deep winkles that create broad furrows and rough, scaly ridges. You can also distinguish the boxelder from other maple species by their signature compound leaves that are marquis-shaped.
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Distinguish the red maple species of trees from other maples by looking for bark that transforms from a smooth texture and light gray color to a rough texture and dark gray color. The bark of older red maple trees is also noticeable because it peels and flakes.
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Label a maple as a sugar maple once you have discovered bark that starts smooth and grayish-brown on young trees and becomes thicker and darker as the tree ages. As the sugar maple tree ages, the bark will also become full of scaly, vertical ridges with deep creases in between.
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Categorize the black maple species by identifying dark-gray bark with deep wrinkles that create irregularly shaped ridges. When sugar maples are nearby, you can distinguish the black maple by its darker, more furrowed surface in comparison to the sugar maple.
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Examine a maple tree that begins its life with light brown and smooth bark that changes to a dark grayish-black color and you will identify the Norway maple tree. The Norway maple adult tree will have narrow, shallow ridges that form into diamond patterns between the furrowed grooves that appear as the tree ages.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit maple image by Vladimir Karpenko from Fotolia.com
