Acer saccharum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644006c4756dd150730746 |
| Scientific name | Acer saccharum |
| Authority | Marshall |
| First published in | Arbust. Amer. : 4 (1785) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
I’m not able to find documented, verifiable ethnobotanical uses of Acer saccharum involving teas, decoctions, tinctures, macerations, or poultices in reliable sources for this taxon.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Acer saccharum is cultivated for maple syrup and maple sugar from its sap. Sap is collected in late winter through drilled taps, concentrated by evaporation to syrup, and can be further processed to sugar. Light-colored “soft” grades and darker “robust” grades are produced; “single kettle” syrup denotes non-blended batches.
Industrial and craft applications:
The wood (hard maple or sugar maple) is used for flooring, interior trim, furniture, butcher blocks and cutting boards, veneers and plywood, turned goods, sports equipment (e.g., baseball bats), tool handles, and piano and violin components. It is processed into lumber and veneer, and is a common source of face veneers for cabinetry.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The sap is an ingredient in syrup. Syrup is graded by color/flavor and used as a sweetener in food products and brewing adjuncts; maple sugar is used as a confectionery ingredient and flavoring. No therapeutic claims are made.
Colorants and tanning:
No documented or primary industrial use as a dye or tannin source is established for A. saccharum.
Wood and fiber:
Sapwood is used for lower-value items; the heartwood is preferred for high-quality lumber and veneer. The wood’s density, hardness, fine uniform grain, and low warp propensity under proper drying enable flooring and high-precision woodwork. It is seasoned lumber or veneer, not fiber.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented industrial fragrance or cosmetic use is established.
Properties relevant to use:
Wood has high density, bending strength, and hardness (Janka ≈ 1,450 lbf; specific gravity ≈ 0.70). Sap sugar is ≈2–3% Brix, predominantly sucrose, yielding a stable syrup/sugar product with characteristic flavor compounds. The wood’s dimensional stability when kiln-dried and fine grain suit high-wear surfaces and precise machining.
Standards and regulation:
In the United States, maple syrup identity standards are defined by 21 CFR 168.140. Canadian syrup is graded under the Canada Agricultural Products Act grading regulations. Lumber products comply with standard grading rules (e.g., NHLA) and moisture content standards.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Maple forests are managed under sustainable forestry practices; certification is available through schemes such as FSC and PEFC. Sap and timber are regionally sourced from northeastern North America, and sap production is monitored to balance tree health with yield.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Saccharodendron hispidum | (Schwer.) Nieuwl. | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3: 183 (1914) |
| Saccharodendron saccharum | (Marshall) Moldenke | Revista Sudamer. Bot. 5: 2 (1936 publ. 1937) |
| Acer barbatum f. commune | Ashe | Bull. Charleston Mus. 14: 30. 1918 |
| Acer nigrum var. glaucum | (Schmidt) Fosberg | Castanea 19: 27 (1954) |
| Acer nigrum subsp. saccharophorum | (K.Koch) R.T.Clausen | Sedum N. Amer. : 106 (1975) |
| Acer palmifolium | Borkh. | Theor. Prakt. Handb. Forstbot. 1: 107 (1800) |
| Acer palmifolium var. concolor | Schwer. | Gartenflora 42: 457 (1893) |
| Acer palmifolium f. euconcolor | Schwer. | Gartenflora 42: 457. 1893 |
| Acer palmifolium f. glabratum | Schwer. | Gartenflora 42: 455 (1893) |
| Acer palmifolium f. glaucum | (Pax) Schwer. | |
| Acer palmifolium var. glaucum | Sarg. | Bot. Gaz. 67: 233 (1919) |
| Acer palmifolium f. integrilobum | Schwer. | Gartenflora 42: 457. 1893 |
| Acer saccharinum var. glaucum | Schmidt | Anleit. Ahornart. : 43, t. VIII (1812) |
| Acer saccharinum var. viride | Schmidt | Anleit. Ahornart. : 9 (1812) |
| Acer saccharophorum | K.Koch | Hort. Dendrol. 80. 1853 |
| Acer saccharophorum f. angustilobatum | Vict. & J.Rousseau | Contr. Inst. Bot. Univ. Montréal 36: 34, fig. 11. 1940 |
| Acer saccharophorum f. conicum | (Fernald) J.Rousseau | Naturaliste Canad. 67: 221 (1940) |
| Acer saccharophorum f. glaucum | (Schmidt) J.Rousseau | Naturaliste Canad. 67: 219. 1940 |
| Acer saccharophorum var. subvestitum | Vict. & Roll.-Germ. | Contr. Inst. Bot. Univ. Montréal 42: 17 (1942) |
| Acer saccharum f. angustilobatum | (Vict. & J.Rousseau) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 1: 29 (1969) |
| Acer saccharum f. conicum | Fernald | Rhodora 36: 239 (1934) |
| Acer saccharum f. euconcolor | Pax | Pflanzenr. , IV, 163: 75 (1902) |
| Acer saccharum f. glabratum | Pax | Pflanzenr. , IV, 163: 75 (1902) |
| Acer saccharum f. hispidum | (Schwer.) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 7: 16. 1975 |
| Acer saccharum f. integrilobum | Pax | Pflanzenr. , IV, 163: 75 (1902) |
| Acer saccharum f. pubescens | Pax | Pflanzenr. (Engler) 4, Fam. 163: 75. 1902 |
| Acer saccharum var. quinquelobulatum | A.E.Murray | Kalmia 12: 17 (1982) |
| Acer saccharum f. rubrocarpum | A.E.Murray | Kalmia 11: 2. 1981 |
| Acer saccharum f. subvestitum | (Vict. & Roll.-Germ.) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 1(7): 29. 1969 |
| Acer saccharum f. truncatum | Pax | Pflanzenr. IV, 163: 75 1902 |
| Acer saccharum f. villipes | (Rehder) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 1: 17 (1969) |
| Acer saccharum f. villosum | Pax | Pflanzenr. , IV, 163: 75 (1902) |
| Acer saccharum var. viride | (Schmidt) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 13: 3. 1983 |
| Acer subglaucum | Bush | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 12: 502 (1931) |
| Acer subglaucum var. sinuosum | Bush | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 12: 503 (1931) |
| Acer treleaseanum | Bush | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 12: 502 (1931) |
| Acer saccharinum var. glaucum | Pax | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 7(3): 242. 1886 [23 Mar 1886] |
| Acer hispidum | Schwer. | Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 1894: 51 (1894) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | sugar maple |
| Spanish | acer saccharophorum f. glaucum |
| Spanish | acer saccharinum var. viride |
| Spanish | acer palmifolium f. integrilobum |
| Spanish | acer nigrum subsp. saccharophorum |
| Spanish | acer nigrum var. glaucum |
| Spanish | acer saccharum f. hispidum |
| Spanish | acer saccharum f. rubrocarpum |
| Spanish | acer subglaucum var. sinuosum |
| Spanish | arce azucarero |
| Spanish | arce de azucar |
| Spanish | acer saccharum f. integrilobum |
| Spanish | acer palmifolium f. glabratum |
| Spanish | acer saccharophorum f. angustilobatum |
| Spanish | acer treleaseanum |
| Arabic | قيقب سكري |
| atj | irinatikw |
| Bulgarian | захарен явор |
| Catalan | auró del sucre |
| chy | vé'keehoohtsêstse |
| Czech | javor cukrový |
| Danish | sukker-løn |
| German | zucker-ahorn |
| German | zuckerahorne |
| German | zuckerahorn |
| German | kanadischer ahorn |
| German | kanadischer spitzahorn |
| Greek | σακχαρώδης σφένδαμος |
| Esperanto | sukeracero |
| Estonian | suhkruvaher |
| Basque | azukre-astigar |
| Basque | azukre-astigarra |
| Persian | افرای قندی |
| Finnish | sokerivaahtera |
| French | érable à sucre |
| French | érable franche |
| French | érable franc |
| Galician | pradairo azucreiro |
| Hebrew | אדר הסוכר |
| Croatian | šećerni javor |
| Hungarian | cukorjuhar |
| Armenian | Թխկի արծաթափայլ |
| Icelandic | sykurhlynur |
| Japanese | シュガーメイプル |
| Japanese | シュガー・メイプル |
| Japanese | シュガーメープル |
| Japanese | 砂糖楓 |
| Japanese | サトウカエデ |
| Japanese | シュガー・メープル |
| Korean | 설탕단풍 |
| Korean | 설탕단풍나무 |
| Lithuanian | cukrinis klevas |
| Latvian | cukura kļava |
| Norwegian Bokmål | sukkerlønn |
| Dutch | ahorn siroop |
| Dutch | suikeresdoorn |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | sukkerlønn |
| Polish | klon kanadyjski |
| Polish | klon cukrowy |
| Punjab | شکر میپل |
| Russian | acer treleaseanum |
| Russian | acer hispidum |
| Russian | acer palmifolium |
| Russian | acer saccharophorum |
| Russian | acer subglaucum |
| Russian | Клён сахарный |
| Russian | Сахарный клён |
| Russian | Клен сахарный |
| Russian | Сахарный клен |
| Slovenian | sladkorni javor |
| Swedish | sockerlönn |
| Ukrainian | Клен цукровий |
| Ukrainian | Цукровий клен |
| Vietnamese | phong đường |
| Chinese | 糖楓 |
| Chinese | 糖枫 |
| Chinese | 硬楓 |
| Chinese | 東部糖楓 |
| Chinese | 石楓 |
| Chinese | 糖槭 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum | (Chapm.) Desmarais | Brittonia 7: 382 (1952) |
| Acer saccharum subsp. grandidentatum | (Nutt.) Desmarais | Brittonia 7: 383 (1952) |
| Acer saccharum subsp. leucoderme | (Small) Desmarais | Brittonia 7: 384 (1952) |
| Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum | (F.Michx.) Desmarais | Brittonia 7: 382 (1952) |
| Acer saccharum subsp. skutchii | (Rehder) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 7: 18 (1975) |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Acer saccharum var. rugelii | (Pax) Rehder | Cycl. Amer. Hort. 1: 13 (1900) |
| Acer saccharum var. schneckii | Rehder | Trees & Shrubs 2: 256 (1913) |
| Acer saccharum var. sinuosum | (Rehder) Sarg. | Bot. Gaz. 67: 234 (1919) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Eastern Asia
- Korea
-
Eastern Asia
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Europe click to expand
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Middle Europe
- Poland
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Middle Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Ontario
- Québec
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Mexico
- Mexico Northeast
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Indiana
- Michigan
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000515026 |
| UNII | KEG5092LU9 |
| Flora of Alabama | 256 |
| Cornell Woody Plants | 13 |
| Canadensys | 9214 |
| USDA Plants | ACSA3 |
| UConn | 24 |
| Tropicos | 200039 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:56795-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2616387 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 275382 |
| PFAF | Acer saccharum |
| Open Tree Of Life | 948916 |
| Observations.org | 206251 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 4024 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000042056 |
| Nature Serve | 2.145639 |
| IUCN Red List | 193863 |
| IPNI | 56795-1 |
| iNaturalist | 52543 |
| GBIF | 3189859 |
| Freebase | /m/017mqg |
| WisFlora | 2425 |
| FEIS | plants/tree/acesac |
| EPPO | ACRSC |
| EOL | 582247 |
| Elurikkus | 2501 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 12167 |
| US Library of Congress | sh85129708 |
| USDA GRIN | 409105 |
| Wikipedia | Acer_saccharum |
| CMAUP | NPO14559 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_030490815.1 | UCONN_Acsa_1.0 | Chromosome | University of Connecticut | 2023-07-18 | 103 | 597.43 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Methoxybenzenes / Dimethoxybenzenes | |||||
| (2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[4-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy]oxane-2,3,4-triol | 162867482 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1CO)OC)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)O)CO | 346.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| > Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Olefins / Acyclic olefins / Alkatrienes | |||||
| 1,8,11-Heptadecatriene, (Z,Z)- | 5352709 | Click to see | 234.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90036-D |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan glycosides | |||||
| (+)-7-epi-Syringaresinol 4'-glucoside | 4486984 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)OC | 580.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| (+)-syringaresinol beta-D-glucoside | 443024 | Click to see | 580.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Pinene | 440967 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| GlyTouCan:G20812UT | 53301851 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| 2-(Hydroxymethyl)-6-[4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 69086659 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CO)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 316.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| 2-[[3,4-Dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-6-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenoxy)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 13922633 | Click to see | 478.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| 3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside | 636454 | Click to see | 346.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| 4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside; (-)-3,5-Dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside | 73981643 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenyl-1-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1->6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 21580495 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Di-O-Methylcrenatin | 10736338 | Click to see | 346.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Kelampayoside A | 10552637 | Click to see | 478.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Koaburaside | 5318820 | Click to see | 332.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Npc66700 | 9986231 | Click to see | 612.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Saccharumoside C | 56834591 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| saccharumoside D | 56834592 | Click to see COC(=O)C1=C(C=CC(=C1)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)OC3C(C(CO3)(CO)O)O)O | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Vanilloloside | 44577222 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CO)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 316.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides | |||||
| GlyTouCan:G27155FO | 102436 | Click to see | 504.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1139/V61-147 |
| L-Fruf(b2-6)Glc(a1-2b)Fruf | 101691507 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(O1)(CO)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 504.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1139/V61-147 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| Icariside E4 | 21589939 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides | |||||
| 6-Methoxy-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-2-one | 346340 | Click to see | 354.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Scopolin | 439514 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Pinocembrin | 68071 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3 | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside | 5492231 | Click to see | 611.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90036-D |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| (-)-Pinostrobin | 73201 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2R,3R)-Alpinone | 46883390 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones | |||||
| 2',6'-Dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone | 5316793 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxyphenoxy]oxan-2-yl]methyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate | 162935875 | Click to see | 466.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Saccharumoside A | 56834589 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)OC)O)O)O)OC)CCCO | 672.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
| Saccharumoside B | 56834590 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CO)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)COC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)O)O)O | 466.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP200678N |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |