Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Lushutseed Name: č̓uʔɬac (pronounced ch-oh-tlatz)

Location: In the Heron Rookery around the trail stand several mature specimens.

Historical Background: The Bigleaf maple is one of our magnificent native hardwoods. It was also brought over to England by Scottish botanist, David Douglas for whom the Douglas-fir is named after. It is commercially harvested for lumber in the Pacific Northwest and used as veneer in furniture. For many Native American tribes in its native range, the Bigleaf maple is referred to as the ‘paddle-tree’ for its use in the construction of paddles and other tools. It is also used medicinally by those tribes to treat sore throats. The sap can be used to produce maple syrup, but it yields less sap than the sugar maple. 

Native

Native Range: Pacific Northwest to California

Identifying Features light: The Bigleaf Maple is one of the more common native broadleaf trees of Washington state, distinguished by massive dark green palmate leaves which can often be a full foot across. The trunks are often multi-stemmed, exhibiting variable levels of apical control depending on density of the trees surrounding them. In spring they are draped with long chains of greenish yellow flowers in a cylindrical shape which appear with or just before new leaves. In fall the Bigleaf maple is immensely showy, turning a beautiful yellow or orange color.

Identifying Features In Depth:

1. Form: Large and broad in open settings, exhibiting greater apical control in denser stands of forest, often multi-stemmed with initially smooth gray bark turning darker and ridged with age. Mosses and lichens favor this tree and often older specimens will be draped with hanging coats of other growth. Licorice ferns similarly favor these trees and may often be seen adorning its trunks.

2. Leaves: Leaves are large and palmate, a dark shiny green on top and lighter pale green below. The grow oppositely and are 6-12’ (15-30cm) across. In fall they turn a beautiful orange or yellow before being dropped. When cut, the leaf stalk exudes a milky white juice.

3. Bark: Initially smooth and light gray the bark darkens with age, becoming rough and ridged. Mosses, lichens, and ferns (especially licorice fern) favor its trunk, creating sweeping sheets of other growth off of mature trees.

4. Reproductive Bodies: Flowers appear before or with leaves and are a greenish yellow color. They grow in a cylindrical chain/cluster off numerous short stalks. Flowers give rise to initially green turning to golden brown paired winged seeds 1-2’ (3-6cm) in length. The wings are spread in a V shape (as opposed to being opposite at 180 degrees like those of the vine maple) and are sometimes called helicopters due to the way in which they spin slowly to the earth on release.