Editing Acer saccharinum (section)

==Description==
[[File:Silver maple leaf.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Mature leaf]]
[[Image:Silver-maple-bark.jpg|thumb|right|Typical bark]]

The silver maple tree is a relatively fast-growing [[deciduous]] [[tree]], commonly reaching a height of {{convert|15|–|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}, exceptionally {{convert|35|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Its spread will generally be {{convert|11|–|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. It is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name "water maple". It is a highly adaptable tree, although it has higher sunlight requirements than other maple trees.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[leaf shape|simple]] and palmately veined, {{cvt|8|–|16|cm|frac=4}} long and {{cvt|6|–|12|cm|frac=4}} broad, with deep angular notches between the five lobes. The {{cvt|5|–|12|cm|frac=4}} long, slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the downy silver undersides of the leaves are exposed. The autumn color is less pronounced than in many maples, generally ending up a pale yellow, although some specimens can produce a more brilliant yellow and even orange and red colorations. The tree has a tendency to color and drop its leaves slightly earlier in autumn than other maples.

The [[flower]]s are in dense clusters, produced before the leaves in early spring,<ref>{{Jepson eFlora|10696|Acer |type=key}}</ref> with the [[seed]]s maturing in early summer. The fruit is a [[schizocarp]] of two single-seeded, winged [[Samara (fruit)|samaras]]. The wing of each samara is about {{cvt|3|–|5|cm|frac=4}} long. The fruit of this species is the largest among the maples native to its range. Although the wings provide for some transport by air, the fruit are heavy and are also transported by water. Silver maple and its close cousin [[red maple]] are the only ''Acer'' species which produce their fruit crop in spring instead of fall. The seeds of both trees have no [[Epigeal germination|epigeal dormancy]] and will germinate immediately. Seed production begins at 11 years of age and large crops are produced most years. Like most maples, silver maple can be variably dioecious (separate male or female trees) or monoecious (male and female flowers on the same tree) but dioecious trees are far more common. They can also change sex from year to year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Silber-Ahorn: Expertenwissen für den Garten |url=https://www.naturadb.de/pflanzen/acer-saccharinum/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.naturadb.de |language=de}}</ref>

On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}