The deciduous leaves are opposite, up to 14 in. in diameter, deeply incised into 5 palmate lobes with coarse teeth.  Leaves are green above, paler on the underside, hairy near the base. Broken petioles (leaf stems) exude a milky sap.  In fall, leaves
turn yellow to golden brown. Forest Falls, San Bernardino Co., CA. 8-4-11. © Joan Avise.

Big-leaf Maple

Acer macrophyllum

A broad-crowned 60-100 ft. tall single-stemmed tree, fairly common to locally abundant in deep shaded canyons and riparian forest, at moderate and high elevations of the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts).  This species is the most abundant of native maples growing in California. Flowering time: Mar. - June. The wood has been used in furniture-making, the sap for making syrup. Uses (from Wikipedia).

Back to Sapindaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California


Leaf underside. Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Acer macrophylum and Platanus racemosa, Harding Cyn., 12-16-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-28-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Mature trunk with lichen growth Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Flower and leaf buds. Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Bud with emerging flowers and new leaves. Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Newly emerging leaves and inflorescences Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Inflorescences with 20-90 flowers form drooping clusters.  Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Sepals, 5,  are yellowish green.  Single pistil with a 2-celled superior ovary and 2 short styles. See note on sexuality in maples. Maple Springs Rd., Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 3-24-12. © Joan Avise.

Cultivated, Newport Beach Environmental Nature Center, Newport Beach, CA. 6-9-07. © Joan Avise.

Forest Falls, San Bernardino Co., CA. 8-4-11. © Joan Avise.

North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. © Peter J. Bryant


North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. © Peter J. Bryant


The pistil ripens into paired 1-winged achenes (samaras) which remain on the tree when leaves fall.  The main seed body is covered with stiff hairs. Cultivated, Newport Beach Environmental Nature Center, Newport Beach, CA. 6-9-07. © Joan Avise.

Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-28-12. © Peter J. Bryant