This
is a large, diverse group of around 150 species of small and large trees with opposite leaves.
Maples are
noted for the shade
they produce and also for
their often
excellent autumn
color.
Many of them are dioecious meaning that they
hafe separate male and female trees while
others are monoecious having both types of
flowers on the same plant.
The one thing they all have in common is
that they produce a fruit called a samara.
These are the "whirlybird" seeds with either
one or two wings that are closely associated
with maples.
The leaves may be
simple, lobed or compound, depending on the
species. The maples are native to
North America,
Europe and
Asia.
In Latin, the word
Acer means sharp and was in
reference to
the strong wood of the maples which
was often used for spears.
