Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

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Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Chalk Maple is similar to Southern Sugar Maple (Acer barbatum), but is smaller, often multi-trunked, and has leaves that are yellow-green instead of whitish underneath. The leaves often droop at the tips, looking a little like Black Maple or even English Ivy. Chalk Maple is rare and usually found in rocky areas, while Southern Sugar Maple is fairly common and usually found in bottomlands.

White Pines Preserve, Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

The undersides of the leaves are yellowish-green and fuzzy. Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Another example, from Chatham Co., NC. Though the leaf shape is somewhat distinctive, some Southern Sugar Maple leaves look like this, too.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Like other maples, the fruits are in paired samaras (keys).

Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Durham Co., NC.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

The name comes from the bark, which is usually smooth and pale gray, sometimes chalky-white, on small trees. Mecklenburg Co., NC.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Here's an example of chalky-white bark on a small tree. The bark itself it actually gray - the white color comes from a species of lichen. Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Bark of a medium-sized tree. Chatham Co., NC.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

The bark on small trees is sometimes broken instead of smooth. Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme)

Bark of a medium-sized tree. Chatham Co., NC 5/18/05.

More information:
Discover Life
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast

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Revised 3/30/08 cwcook@duke.edu

All photographs and text ©2008 by Will Cook