Life History and Disturbance Response of Acer spicatum (Mountain Maple)
Family: Aceraceae
Guild: understory tolerant
Functional Lifeform: small deciduous tree
Ecological Role: grows in cool sites such as edges of streams, in ravines and in woodlands with deep moist soil.
Lifespan, yrs (typical/max): tolerant
Height, m: max of 30m
Canopy Tree: yes
Pollination Agent: insect
Seeding, yrs (begins/optimal/declines): 1 yrs
New Cohorts Source: seeds or sprouts
Flowering Dates: late spring
Seedfall Begins: early fall
Seed Banking: up to 1 yr seasonal
Cold Stratification Required: yes
Seed Type/Dispersal Distance/Agent: winged/200m/wind
Season of Germination: spring
Seedling Rooting System: underground sprouts from stumps/stems root suckers rare
Establishment Seedbed Preferences:
Substrate: undisturbed with litter cover.
Light: overstory shade
Moisture: moist required
Temperature: neutral
Disturbance Response:
Fire: Mountain maple is girdled at the root collar by low intensity surface fires and killed by severe fires. Following fire damage it will sprout from the roots or stump.
Weather:
Air Pollution:
Exotics: