BOX ELDER
Acer negundo
MAPLE FAMILY (Aceraceae)
Description
This medium-sized, native tree has a short trunk, up to 2 feet in diameter, often sprouting young branches (B). The compound leaves have three coarsely toothed or lobed leaflets (A). New shoots are a bright green in spring (C). Later in the season the terminal twigs become reddish-brown which are covered with a powdery, white "bloom" (D). The male and female flowers are found on separate trees. The male flowers first appear reddish, later as dangling, green fascicles (D,E,F). The female flowers develop into paired "keys" (samaras), up to 2 inches long, either reddish or green (G,H).
Occurrence
Grows in wooded floodplains, especially near water. Flowers appear in March and April. In Fontenelle Forest, common along Marsh Trail. At Neale Woods, common along MRE Trail.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Nature Association who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page
is: Roland Barth.
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