Here we have the Black Maple, or Acer nigrum. Though less common than the closely related Sugar Maple, it occurs throughout the Midwest. This large tree often reaches heights of 80 feet and can live for 400 years or more. Preferring moist sites, the Black Maple is frequently found along streams and river bottoms. Its dark green, five-lobed leaves closely resemble those of the Sugar Maple but always appear drooping, regardless of water needs. The Black Maple produces samaras, or paired, winged seeds, which turn from bright green to brown as they ripen in the fall. The mature bark is tannish-gray with vertical ridges that run up and down the tree in no particular pattern, often curling along one side.
