Red Maple circa 1920
Acer rubrum
Named suitably for the colour of its twigs,buds, flowers, and leaf stalks, the red maple retains its red colour throughout most of the year. The leaves turn a brilliant red in the autumn. Take note of the smooth, gray bark common to young specimens. Not a valuable timber source, the tree is mainly used as a source of forage for wildlife. Widespread throughout most of southern Ontario and eastern Canada, the tree is highly variable in form. An older specimen, the bark has become darker in colour to a grey-brown with age. The ridges inherent along the bark are prominent and profound.