Tree Identity?

TheRoundabout

Hello everyone and thank you for hosting this forum. I have read the instructions for posting pictures and I'm crossing my fingers that my pictures will load correctly.

I am hoping that someone can identify this tree for me. I see them a lot in my area (South Dakota US) but no one can tell me what they are. If my pictures don't work I want to provide a description of the leaves. From a distance the leaves look purple the overall shape of the tree is tall and rounded with a solid trunk. The leaves have five points and as I walk closer they look black rather than purple. Up close some appear to be very dark green. I'm kind of embarrassed because I don't know what I should try to describe in order for a person to venture a guess. Hopefully the pictures work.



I have more pictures but I want to see if that one works first.

TheRoundabout

Now that I have established my ability to post pictures I'll include a few more in this reply. These are not the best pictures and I apologize for that. I was using my phone to take them because it's what I had with me.





If it's too hard to tell I'll get some better pictures as soon as I can.

Eric Frei

Close ups of the leaves

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cte539

yes, better pic of leaves
maybe 'crimson king' norway maple?
Paul

TheRoundabout

I will go that way tomorrow and grab a leaf or two and scan them. Thanks a lot.

Brent Ferris

Need flat pics of leaves - prob a variety of Norway Maple -- looks a little dark for Crimson King - might be a Schwedler - but there are apparently over 600 species of Norway maple -- I know only 5 or 6. A pic of the bark would help too - tho pretty sure is Norway.

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My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

TheRoundabout

I scanned some leaves and I'm going to post pictures. I noticed some things when I was gathering them up though. They are substantially bigger and thicker than the other leaves with the same shape in this area. they also have a waxy feel to them compared to other leaves. In the comparison picture that I scanned I have it next to one of the biggest leaves that I could reach from a green tree with similar shaped leaves. When I picked the leaves from the tree in question I wasn't looking at the sizes. The one next to the pen should give you a good idea of their size. The single leaf is to show how some of them just look very dark green in spots.

It is early fall in South Dakota and we are starting to have some of the leaves changing but the leaves from the dark tree have always had that color. I don't remember from previous years if they actually change in the fall or not.

I do not know how to change the picture sizes in order for them to fit so I'm going to try to link to an image hosting site where I am storing them. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might cause.


http://i55.????????????/5kpldd.jpg Comparison between a leaf from the mystery tree and another leaf with a similar shape.

Pen comparison: http://i51.????????????/15rkry8.jpg

Single leaf: http://i52.????????????/w0hra1.jpg

TheRoundabout

It looks like links don't work here. Could someone please explain in very small words how to change the image size to fit the forum regulations?

Eric Frei

How to post| add a picture or file| embed picture

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TheRoundabout

I hope this works. I'm not always very good with technology.

cte539

looks like Norway Maple
Remove a leaf from the twig and see if any white stuff bleeds out the petiole
white stuff= Norway
Paul

Brent Ferris

Definitely Norway Maple, possibly Schwedler variety, maybe another. Keys if still visible should be almost opposite each other, points of leaves longer than Sugar Maple. The white sap coming out of the petiole is poisonous and will destroy your liver. The leaves stay the same colour all Spring-Fall, sometimes changing to brown before leaf fall.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

TheRoundabout

Thank you so much for helping me figure this out. I've loved these trees since I moved here and I'm glad to finally know what they are. They add an interesting focal point in landscaping.

What a fantastic and helpful forum you have here.

dsam

Norway Maple (Crimson King) Acer plantanoides check spelling on species