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Material Name: sugar maple
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Description
A maple tree, Acer saccharum, native to the eastern half of North America. Sugar maple trees have a smooth trunk, five-lobed leaves, winged seeds and are commercially grown for maple syrup. The light reddish-brown timber is hard, fine-grain, and often has an attractive figuring pattern known as bird's eye (irregular brownish dots surrounded by rings). Maple lumber is used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring (dance floors, bowling alleys), musical instruments, and veneer.

Synonyms and Related Terms
Acer saccharum; érable à sucre (Fr.); Zuckerahorn (Deut.); acero da zucchero (It.); arce de azúcar (Esp.); érable oeil d'oiseau (Fr.); Vogelaugenahorn (Deut.); acero occhiolinato (It.); arce ojo de pajaro (Esp.); hard maple; rock maple; white maple; bird's eye maple

Molecular Weightspecific gravity = 0.69
Density43 ppcf

Other Properties
Color: whitish timber often with grain circles around small dark knots. Rings: distinct. Pores: diffuse, fine. Grain: distinct. Rays: distinct. Very hard, heavy.
Height = 30-37 m Flower = light yellow green clusters in early spring Fruit = two-winged samaras in horseshoe shape Bark = brown with furrows

Last updated on: 8/10/2009 10:10:25 AM


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Sugar maple
Acer saccharum



Hard Maple
(Acer saccharum)


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