fauntleroy tree walk
Vine maple
lushootseed name:
This species is called the “basket tree” by indigenous peoples due to its flexible nature and use in basket weaving.
latin name:
acer circinatum
Habitat
This plant can be found from Alaska all the way to northern California on both the east and west side of the Cascade Crest. It prefers to live in moist soils within breaks of the forest canopy and along forest margins. Vine maple is very adaptable and grows in recently logged areas like this park.
Identification
growth habit
Vine maple is a tree and shrub, standing 13 to 26 feet tall. Sometimes this tree will create trailing arches, rooting when the limber trunk hits the ground. Their growth habit helps them “walk” across the forest floor and form colonies.
leaves
Distinctly palmate-or spreading like a hand showing its palm-with 7 to 9 lobes. Leaves are green in the spring to summer months and turn a brilliant red color in sun and gold color in shade in fall.
flower
Red to maroon sepals surrounding smaller, white to cream colored petals. Often sepals will have whisker-like hairs coming from them.
fruits
Sometimes known as whirligigs, these 2-winged fruits are green in early season and ripen from red to purple to brown in the late season. The botanical term for this type of fruit is a samara.
look-a-likes
This tree/shrub species is often confused with its larger cousin, big leaf maple. An easy way to tell these two apart is to count the leaf lobes. Big leaf maple has 5 lobes, while vine maple has 7 to 9.
Ecology
This small tree is a big food and shelter source for northwest forest animals. Chipmunks, squirrels, and birds such as grosbeaks, nuthatches, and finches feast on the delicious seeds. Occasionally you can find a forest rodents cache of samaras. Deer, elk, and beaver enjoy the supple green leaves and twigs in the summer months.
This plant exudes a sweet sap that attracts insects, take a closer look at the bark to see what you can find! Many larval-stage-moths call this plant home. The beautiful red and white flowers are an attractive source of nectar for bees from march to june.
This plant really likes to grow along riparian corridors; providing water-cooling shade, filtering riparian waters, and stabilizing banks with sturdy root systems.
Ethnobotany
This bendable wood is used for many items, including that of clam, wood, and fish gathering baskets. Flexibility and durability makes this wood a great choice for weaving cone-shaped fish traps.
In winter months, indigenous travelers would use snowshoes made of vine maple twigs to traverse snowy terrain. Other items include baby cradles, bows, and carved dishware. A mix of vine maple charcoal and brown sugar has been used to treat dysentery and polio. Its sweet sap has been eaten, similar to maple syrup from the well-known sugar maple tree.