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Description
Maple leaf (Acer sp.)

Maple is a genus of trees or shrubs. There are approximately 125 species, most of which are native to Asia, but several species also occur in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. The word Acer is derived from a Latin word meaning "sharp", referring to the characteristic points on the leaves.

Maples are mostly trees growing to 10-40 meters (30-130 ft) in height. Others are shrubs less than 10 meters tall with a number of small trunks originating at ground level. Most species are deciduous, but a few in southern Asia and the Mediterranean region are evergreen. Most are shade-tolerant when young, and are often late-successional in ecology; many of the smaller species are usually understory trees growing under the canopies of other larger trees, while the larger species eventually become dominant canopy trees.

The leaves are used as a food plant for the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. Aphids are also very common sap-feeders on maples.

The particularly spectacular fall colors of the Acer rubrum (Red Maple) are a major contributor to the seasonal landscape in southeastern Canada and in New England. In the American Pacific Northwest and British Columbia it is the spectacular fall colors of Acer circinatum (Vine Maple) that draw tourists and photographers.

More info: [link]

Description
Maple leaf (Acer sp.)

Maple is a genus of trees or shrubs. There are approximately 125 species, most of which are native to Asia, but several species also occur in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. The word Acer is derived from a Latin word meaning "sharp", referring to the characteristic points on the leaves.

Maples are mostly trees growing to 10-40 meters (30-130 ft) in height. Others are shrubs less than 10 meters tall with a number of small trunks originating at ground level. Most species are deciduous, but a few in southern Asia and the Mediterranean region are evergreen. Most are shade-tolerant when young, and are often late-successional in ecology; many of the smaller species are usually understory trees growing under the canopies of other larger trees, while the larger species eventually become dominant canopy trees.

The leaves are used as a food plant for the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. Aphids are also very common sap-feeders on maples.

The particularly spectacular fall colors of the Acer rubrum (Red Maple) are a major contributor to the seasonal landscape in southeastern Canada and in New England. In the American Pacific Northwest and British Columbia it is the spectacular fall colors of Acer circinatum (Vine Maple) that draw tourists and photographers.

More info: [link]