Box Elder Stump

The Artifact

Stump of a Box Elder Tree (Acer negundo) Growing from the foundation of the Hartford Fire District Building on Bridge Street in White River Junction, Vermont. Collected 2003, c.e.

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Dried and with most of its bark still attached, this stump shows evidence of years of trimming. However, since the stump and root structure of the plant was not eradicated, this specimen demonstrates the tenacity of the species. It was found growing between asphalt and the concrete foundation of the first floor of the building.

Description of the Species

Acer negundo is a small, usually fast-growing and fairly short-lived tree that grows up to 10-25 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 30-50 cm, rarely up to 1 m diameter. It often has several trunks and can form impenetrable thickets. (van Gelderen, C.J. & van Gelderen, D.M. (1999). Maples for Gardens: A Color Encyclopedia)

The shoots are green, often with a whitish to pink or violet waxy coating when young. Branches are smooth, somewhat brittle, and tend to retain a fresh green color rather than forming a bark of dead, protective tissue. The bark on its trunks is pale gray or light brown, deeply cleft into broad ridges, and scaly.

Unlike most other maples (which usually have simple, palmately lobed leaves), Acer negundo has pinnately compound leaves that usually have three to seven leaflets. Simple leaves are also occasionally present; technically, these are single-leaflet compound leaves.

The leaflets are about 5-10 cm long and 3-7 cm wide with slightly serrate margins. Leafs have a translucent light green color and turn yellow in Autumn.

The flowers are small and appear in early spring on drooping racemes 10-20 cm long. The seeds are paired samaras, each seed slender, 1-2 cm long, with a 2-3 cm incurved wing; they drop in autumn or they may persist through winter. Seeds are usually both prolific and fertile.

Unlike most other maples, A. negundo is fully dioecious and both a "male" and "female" tree are needed for either to reproduce.

See also: Box Elder Bug Boisea trivittata.