Name:  Acer negundo	Description: Family:    Acer Growth Form:  Medium tree up to 60 feet tall, trunk diameter up to 4 feet, crown wide spreading.  The bark is light brown, ridged when young, becoming deeply furrowed with age.  Stems: Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound, with 3-7 leaflets; leaflets elliptic to ovate, up to 4 inches long, about half as broad, pointed at the teip, tapering or rounded at the sometimes asymmetrical base, smooth or usually coarsely toothed along the edges or even shallowlly lobed, light green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth or hairy on the lower surface. Flower Arrangement: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees Flowers:  Several in a cluster, greenish-yellow, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold. Petals: Stamens:  . Pistil:  Fruits:  Borne in pairs, in drooping clusters, composed of a curved wing with a seed at the base, greenish-yellow, up to 2 inches long.	Discussion:   The wood is light weight, soft, close-grained,and white.  Its uses include paper pulp, interior finishing, and furniture.  The Box Elder most nearly resembles ashes, but differs by its green or gloucous twigs and its paired fruit.
Image:	Location: Habitat:  Moist woods Range:   Vermont across to Saskatchewan, south to Texas, east to Florida.	Waypoint:  N 38 degrees 34.755 minutes W 89 degrees 04.146 minutes Elevation 475 feet

© Copyright 2004, Odin Public School #700, all rights reserved.
Photos courtesy: Odin Tech Prep Team 2004
Project courtesy: Grant Arnold, Deniz Hawley, Kristen Minor, Brian Deadmond

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