striped maple

Acer pensylvanicum

Also called Moosewood because its young bark and twigs are a preferred winter food source for moose.

Scientific name: Acer pensylvanicum
Taxonomy: Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Sapindales › Sapindaceae › Acer
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Cool, moist, shaded slopes in deciduous and coniferous forests.
Diet: Photosynthetic (Sunlight, CO2, water, and soil nutrients).
Range: Northeastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Appalachian Mountains
Size: 5-10 meters in height with a trunk diameter up to 20 cm
Lifespan: 50-100 years
Active: diurnal
Threats: Heavy browsing by deer and moose, habitat fragmentation, and rising temperatures due to climate change.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. Observe its unique 'snakebark' pattern without peeling or damaging the bark, which can expose the tree to disease. Safe to touch, but avoid breaking branches.

Acer pensylvanicum ( striped maple , also known as moosewood and moose maple ) is a small North American species of maple.

Photo: Loïc Mathieu, CC-BY, via iNaturalist