Acer spp
General Information
There are approximately 125 species of maple. Most are indigenous to Asia but there are many native to America, Europe and Africa as well. Most maples are trees which grow anywhere from 10 to 40 feet tall. They have characteristic lobed, palmate leaves and "winged" fruits called samaras in the spring. The leaf arrangement is opposite.
Maples flower in early spring or late winter and are valuable early food sources for pollinating insects. They have four or five very small petals and sepals, four to ten stamens and two long pistil, or one pistil with two styles.
Propagation:
Maple seeds, called samaras, have wings designed to carry them some distance away from the mother tree. These can be gathered and planted and will often grow quite well. Most need to be stratified first, either through cold stratification or by using a file to wear down the hard outer shell.
Maples can take up to six months to germinate and can be troubled by root rot when young. Keep young maple trees in a sheltered, semi-shaded area.
Maples of all ages can be bothered by aphids and are popular hosts for many species of butterfly and moth. Maples are also affected by a number of fungal parasites. Although these may look ugly, they don't usually cause lasting harm to the tree.
History and Folklore
The word acer is from the Latin meaning "sharp" which refers to the pointed leaves.
Maple sugar was being made by the Native Americans long before European colonists came to America. A number of stories exist to explain where the practice came from.
One story says that when the Creator first made the world, maple syrup ran from maple trees all the time. One day Glooskap came by and saw that all the villagers were laying under the trees letting the syrup run into their mouths and all the work was undone and the fields overgrown. So he made the sap runny and told the people that if they wanted syrup they'd have to work for it and showed them how to turn the runny sap into sweet, thick syrup.
Another story says that red squirrel first showed a hunter how to get sweet sap from the maple. He liked to bite off the branches to make the sap ooze out and when it had dried into a sugar crust would come back and lick it joyfully.
Harvesting & Storage
Pick up branches after a storm to make wands and staves.
Household Use
Maple trees make great bonsai. The wood of sugar maple and sycamore maple are especially prized for making furniture and flooring.
Maple trees are a valuable host to many species of moth and butterfly and make an excellent addition to a butterfly garden.
Magical Attributes
Maple is feminine in nature and associated with the moon and Jupiter and the elemental energies of water.
Maple is excellent for wands, staffs and maypoles.
Maple is useful in moon magic and in spells related to travel, learning and decision-making, especially in matters related bringing about or dealing with change. Maple is also useful for spiritual healing.
Maple syrup may be used in Kitchen Witchery for love spells and spiritual healing, i.e. soothing the psyche.
Culinary Use
Maple wood is useful for smoking and curing meat.
The sap of the sugar maple can be boiled down to make maple syrup, maple sugar and maple candy.
See Also
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I gave a spout to my brother,He nurrished her/him the tree is still growing and is as bueatyfull as well be done.I am at a motel, the room is decked out in J'maple colors,and a picture of the maple.Things just dosnt happen like this.Its like the tree is watching and careing for me…..What is going on?..Yours truely BALLEW.