Sapindaceae (Maple or soapberry family) Flashcards
What family is the Sapindaceae family?
The Maple (soapberry) family)
Key features:
- SAMARAS for fruits
- 5 petals, 5 sepals, 8 stamens
What are the two temperate zone genera of importance in the family?
Acer (Maples) and Aesculus (Horse chestnuts)
What Maples are native to MN?
Sugar, Silver, Red, Mountain, Black, Box elder
What is an included branch junction? What problem does it present?
When a tree forms poor (split into two trunks) and the bark on one is expanding into the other pushing the whole tree apart and eventually large trunks of the tree will come down unexpectedly
What are the two spring fruiting maple species?
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) & Acer rubrum (Red maple)
What maple species can wait in ‘suspended animation’ in the understory for 100 years waiting for a gap in the overstory?
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Why has Norway Maple been such a prized tree in the landscape nursery industry?
- HIGH VARIABILITY
- Tolerant to compacted, dry soils and urban pollution
Why are Korean maple hybrids touted over Japanese maple hybrids in for Northern landscapes?
Combines the hardiness of the Korean maple with the color and refinement of the Japanese maple
What’s the best identifying characteristic for maple trees?
SAMARAS are the fruits
What are the best identifying characteristics for the buckeyes?
Is box elder (Acer negundo) good for anything?
What is the major problem Red maple suffers in the landscape?
Sensitive to elevated pH
Which maples were described as invasive?
Amur maple, Norway maple,
What are some characteristics that allow them to be such successful invaders?
