Maple

The Maple is a tree of autumn displaying its brilliant colors of yellow orange and/or red. In fact, Japan celebrates “Momijigari”, the custom of viewing the changing colors of maples in the autumn. A member of the Aceraceae family, the Maple has well over 100 species.  

It has been fossil dated to have existed on the planet surpassing 100 million years ago (in Alaska) with certain species disappearing during the ice age. Almost all types of maple trees may be found in Asia with many types also found in North America and Europe.  

Maple is probably best known for its syrup with a rich sugar-base containing small amounts of vitamins and minerals. Maple wood is used in a variety of ways from making violins, violas, guitars and drums to furniture, flooring, baseball bats, bowling pins, butcher blocks and paper, just to name a few. Maples are also a popular choice for the art of bonsai.  

In some regions, the Maple tree carries various influences. In England, children are passed through a maple’s branches to ensure long life. In Alsace, storks place a piece of maple in their nests to frighten away bats whose touch makes their eggs infertile. It is also said that sitting in the sugarshack inhaling maple steam could cure a cold.  

Learn more about Maple at The Wood Database by clicking here.