Acer leucoderme Small. Section: Acer. Common name: Chalk Maple. Phenology: Mar-Apr; May-Sep. Habitat: Rocky slopes and bluffs, particularly over mafic or calcareous rock, on the Gulf Coast in floodplains. Distribution: A species of se. North America, primarily of the Piedmont from NC to AL, less commonly in the Ridge and Valley of se. TN (Chester, Wofford, & Kral 1997), low Blue Ridge of w. NC and adjacent TN and GA, Coastal Plain of Panhandle FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, and se. TX, and in sw. AR and se. OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Near its type locality in the sc. Piedmont of NC, Acer leucoderme is a multitrunked understory tree (regardless of fire regime). In the Gulf Coast it can be a medium to large canopy tree, very similar to Acer floridanum other than technical characters of leaf underside.
Other Comments: The leaves, at least those on lower and inner branches, are marcescent, tending to dry a tawny color and remain on the tree until spring, reminiscent of beech.
Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA13, K4, NS, POWO, S13, W; = Acer saccharum Marshall ssp. leucoderme (Small) Desmarais — Fl4, RAB, WH3, Desmarais (1952), Murray (1970); = Acer saccharum Marshall var. leucoderme (Small) Sarg. — Ar; = Saccharodendron leucoderme (Small) Nieuwl. — S. Basionym: Acer leucoderme Small 1895 "Urbasionym:" Acer floridanum (Chapm.) Pax var. acuminatum Trel. 1894
Links to other floras: = Acer leucoderme - FNA13
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
Intro:
Stems:
Leaves:
Inforescence:
Flowers: Greenish-white flowers
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: to 30 ft.
plant sale text: The chalk maple is named after its gray, smooth bark. It is rarer and smaller than, though similar to, the more common Southern sugar maple. The chalk maple is an understory tree which prefers rocky soils and is often multi-trunked. Its leaves are yellow-green on the underside, rather than silver like the Southern sugar maple. This tree is highly shade and drought tolerant. Maples support up to 287 species of butterflies and moths.
bloom table text:
description:
stems:
leaves:
inflorescence:
flowers: Greenish-white flowers
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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