Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Description: The maple is a British native member of the Acer, or sycamore, family. The leaves grow in pairs and have five lobes. They are dark green when mature, turning a spectacular colour in autumn. It produces distinctive winged seeds.
	Myths and Legends	Facts, Figures and Uses
	In Wales the tree was called masarn : the old “mazer”, a wooden drinking bowl or goblet, was worked from maple wood. The wood was used centuries ago for making harps: a harp made from maple wood was unearthed when a Saxon barrow was excavated. The famous Sutton Hoo treasure also revealed part of a Saxon harp made of maple. Carvings in maple can be seen in many thirteenth century cathedrals and churches. In parts of Europe, it was believed that maple branches around a doorway had the power to prevent bats entering. The herbalist, Culpepper, recommended the use of the leaves and bark to strengthen the liver.	Like the Sycamore, the field maple produces paired winged seeds known as “keys”. The wings lie in an almost straight line in field maples, and spin like helicopter blades as the seeds fall. Maple wood is heavier than sycamore, fine-grained and brown. It is much prized by wood turners and cabinet makers, especially for very fine articles. It takes a high polish and is an excellent veneer wood. Like many members of the Acer family, maple trees produce sweet sap in the spring which can be used for making wine or maple syrup, and sugar can be extracted from the wood by boiling.