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Red maples are widespread in eastern North America, ranging from Newfoundland, Canada to Florida and Texas in US. They occur statewide in North Carolina except for the highest mountain peaks and the immediate seashore. Red maples grow quickly and serve as shade trees for the yard. The wood is used for furniture, paneling, and musical instruments.
Identification characteristics include opposite twigs and leaves. Twigs and buds are reddish. Bark is gray and smooth on saplings but becomes cracked in in larger specimens. Leaves are 3-5 lobed with serrated edges. Fall leaf color is variable, ranging from bright yellow to crimson red.
More information from USDA Plants: species profile, plant guide
The white ash is widespread in eastern North America, ranging from Newfoundland, Canada to Florida and west to Texas in US. They occur statewide in North Carolina except for the highest mountain peaks and the immediate seashore. The ash’s hard wood is used for furniture, tool handles, and baseball bats.
Identification characteristics include opposite twigs and leaves. Bark is gray-brown, finely furrowed, and with a corky feel. Leaves are compound with entire edges. Green ash (F. pennsylvanica Marshall) is a closely related species.
More information from USDA Plants: species profile, plant guide
American sycamores are widespread in eastern North America, ranging from Ontario, south to Florida, and west to Nebraska. They occur statewide in North Carolina except for the high mountains and the immediate seashore. Sycamores prefer moist habitats including riverbanks and alluvial forests. The sycaomore’s wood is difficult to split and is used for furniture, flooring, and particle board.
Identification characteristics include large, star-shaped leaves with palmate veins. The light gray-brown bark peels to reveal white inner bark. Seeds are produced in a ball-shaped cluster, 2-5 cm in diameter, of wind-dispersed achenes.
More information from USDA Plants: species profile, plant guide