Species guide
Sugar maple
HarmlessAcer saccharum
How to recognise it
Five-lobed leaves with smooth-edged lobes and rounded U-shaped notches between them, brilliant orange-red fall color, and paired winged seeds (the source of maple syrup).
Is it dangerous?
Harmless to people. Note that the wilted leaves of red and silver maples are toxic to horses (sugar maple is far less of a concern).
Commonly confused with
- Red maple — toothed lobe edges and V-shaped notches
- Norway maple — leaf stalk oozes milky sap when broken
Recorded 66,098 times in the wild worldwide.
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