Box Elder

Oder: Sapindales

Family: Sapindaceae

Genus: Acer

Species: A. negundo

Identifying Characteristics:

- Height: Small, usually fast-growing and fairly short-lived tree that grows up to 10-25 m tall

- Trunk: 30-50 cm in diameter

- shoots: green, often with a whitish to pink or violet waxy coating when young

- Branches: smooth, somewhat brittle, and tend to retain a fresh color rather than forming bark

- Bark: on the trunk is pale gray or light brown, deeply cleft into broad ridges, and scaly

- Leaves: pinnately compound, 3-7 leaflets

- Leaflets: 5-10 cm long and 3-7 cm wide with slightly serrate margins. Translucent light green

- Flowers: small, 10-20 cm long, with a 2-3 cm incurved wing, yellow green

Special Adaptations:

- Prefers lots of sunlight

- grows on flood plains and other disturbed areas with ample water supply

- Soft wood

- May occur as a weedy species in urban areas where its seeds are able to germinate