Question: At Quincy Bog Natural Area in Rumney, NH growing amongst rocks at the base of a ledge I found many …
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Question
At Quincy Bog Natural Area in Rumney, NH growing amongst rocks at the base of a ledge I found many samples of what could be Acer spicatum. Notice that the leaves aren't classically lobed like Mountain Maple, but do have the quilted topography that typifies A. spicatum. Is there enough here to confirm this is A spicatum or could it be A. rubrum or some other species? What else can I look for to distinguish this as A. spicatum?
Answer
Dear gdewolf, the plants may well be Acer spicatum (mountain maple), but the best characters to distinguish this plant from Acer rubrum is not the leaves. The next time you are trying to distinguish these species, examine the branchlets and winter buds. Acer spicatum has pubescent branchlets and 2 bud scales covering the winter buds (Acer spicatum has glabrous branchlets and 3 or more bud scales covering the winter buds). Best wishes.
