Trident Maple

Acer buergerianum

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

▲ small tree

▲▼ three-lobed leaves

▲ bark

Location near Missouri State University campus:  in 800 to 1000 blocks of South Kickapoo, two blocks east of MSU campus

Acer buergeranum: Trident Maple

·         leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, palmately 3-lobed; shiny dark green above; glabrous when mature; 1.5 -3.5" long and as wide; often reddish fall color

·         stems slender, gray-brown and pubescent when young; darker brown and glabrous with age; solid greenish white pith

·         bark is gray-brown-orange, somewhat exfoliating with platy scales

·         grows 20-30' tall and wide in oval to rounded form

·         prefers full sun and well-drained acid soil; very tolerant of dry soils once established

·         slow to medium growth rate-- slower with age

·         similar to Acer truncatum (Shantung Maple), except Shantung Maple leaves have 5 lobes, instead of 3 as on Trident Maple