Black maple
Acer nigrum

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Where it is found

A temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The sap is used for maple syrup. The seeds are boiled, then roasted and eaten. The inner bark is cooked and crushed and used as a thickener.

It is significant and second to maple syrup.

Edible parts

Sap, seeds, bark

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Hard maple, rock maple

Synonyms

Acer saccharinum L. subsp. nigrum (Michz. f.) Desmarais;