20. Vine Maple

Specimen Size: 20.9ft tall

Location: On the HUB side of the path just up from the massive elm, next to a small bigleaf maple which it may be compared to.

Historical Background: One of our native maple species, it is used in restoration and as an ornamental shrub in landscaping. The Coast Salish people craft bows and frames for fishing nets using this tree. The lower Thompson people make snowshoes and cradle frames from the wood. Other tribes have boiled the bark to make tea. 

Native

Native Range: Alaska, B.C., Northern California, Pacific Coast

Identifying Features: The vine maple is one of the smaller species on this tour, generally more shrublike, achieving height of about 25” (7m) in larger specimens, and exhibiting very low apical control. Sometimes branches will droop and root then form a new cluster of trees. It is distinguished by the classic lobed leaves of a maple, but much smaller than those of the bigleaf maple, another native relative. The leaves are light green, opposite and deciduous, toothed on the margins and generally hairy on both sides. They turn brilliantly in autumn to anywhere from gold to dark red.

Identifying Features In Depth:

1. Form: Shrubby or small tree up to 25” (7m) in height with low apical control and open foliage, specialized for the forest understory. Stems begin as a pale green color but turn gray to dull brown as they age. 

2. Leaves: Leaves are roundish with 7-9 lobes and pointed tips, toothed margins, and small hairs on each light green surface. They grow from 2-5’ (5-12cm) across in an opposite pattern and have distinctive veins traveling from the base in a palmate pattern to each lobe. Leaves turn anywhere from gold to deep red in fall.

3. Bark: Smooth and light green on young growth becoming smooth and gray to brown on older growth.

4. Reproductive Bodies: Produces small (6-9mm) white flower in broad clusters at the end of shoots which give rise to small winged fruits 1-2’ (2-4cm) in length turning from green to reddish brown with age. The wings spread widely, almost straight across the dual seed pairs and fall in the helicopter way typical of maples.