6/13/2023 0 Comments Maple trees![]() Most species require stratification in order to germinate, and some seeds can remain dormant in the soil for several years before germinating. The yellow seeds are released individually and almost always without the stems. The green seeds are released in pairs, sometimes with the stems still connected. Depending on the species, the seeds can be small and green to orange and big with thicker seed pods. However, one tree can release hundreds of thousands of seeds at a time. Seed maturation is usually in a few weeks to six months after flowering, with seed dispersal shortly after maturity. During World War II, the US Army developed a special airdrop supply carrier that could carry up to 65 pounds (29 kg) of supplies and was based on the maple seed. People often call them "helicopters" due to the way that they spin as they fall. They are shaped to spin as they fall and to carry the seeds a considerable distance on the wind. These seeds occur in distinctive pairs each containing one seed enclosed in a "nutlet" attached to a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue. ![]() The distinctive fruits are called samaras, "maple keys", "helicopters", "whirlybirds" or "polynoses". Morphology ģD rendering of a ♜T scan of a samara. The oldest fossils of Acer in Europe are from Svalbard, dating to the late Eocene ( Priabonian ~38-34 million years old). The oldest known fossils of Acer are from the late Paleocene of Northeast Asia and northern North America, around 60 million years old. The closest relative of Acer is Dipteronia, which only has two living species in China, but has a fossil record extending back to the middle Paleocene in North America. Numerous maple species are widely grown in gardens where many are especially valued for their autumn colour. It is one of the most common genera of trees in Asia. Maple syrup is made from the sap of some maple species. The closest relatives of the maples are the horse chestnuts. Maples usually have easily recognizable palmate leaves ( Acer negundo is an exception) and distinctive winged fruits. The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe. Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere. There are approximately 132 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae. Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) foliageĪcer ( / ˈ eɪ s ər/) is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples.
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