Striped Maple, MTSF, MA   Robert Leverett   Oct 02, 2006 05:33 PDT  ENTS,      Enduring a cold and a sore throat, yesterday I slogged through periods of heavy rain to collect more striped maple data in Mohawk. I revisited the ENTS Grove which has the greatest collection of tall striped maples that I've seen. Basically, the tallest of the species seems to be found under a canopy of tall white pines. The following table lists 15 tall striped maples that I've measured. All but one are in the ENTS Grove. There will be other tall striped maples confirmed in other pine groves, but none will likely rival those in the ENTS grove for reasons that aren't entire clear. I remeasured the single striped maple in the Trees of Peace. Its height went from 58.3 to 59.8 feet. It will almost certainly join the 60 and over club next season. I remeasured the champion 65.0-footer yesterday and could confirm 64.0 feet easily, but had trouble consistently getting 65. It will take a third measurement to settle the issue. Most areas in MTSF that have abundant striped maple aren't suited to produce 50-foot specimens. The mature Striped Maples will continue to commonly be seen in the 25 to 45-foot range. Of that, I have little doubt, but a few stands will exhibit individuals in the 45-60-foot range and very occasionally a striped maple will top 60. At least that appears to be the story for MTSF, MSF, and environs. My next trip will be to Ice Glen to see if the striped maples there in the pine zones exhibit the same growth patterns as the Mohawk trees. Location Circumference Height Encampment Pines 1.7 65.0 Encampment Pines 1.8 60.5 Encampment Pines 1.6 60.3 Trees of Peace         1.3 59.9 Encampment Pines 1.8 59.5 Encampment Pines 1.7 56.5 Encampment Pines 1.7 56.0 Encampment Pines 1.8 54.0 Encampment Pines 1.7 52.0 Encampment Pines 1.7 51.5 Encampment Pines 1.7 50.0 Encampment Pines 2.0 48.4 Encampment Pines 1.5 47.5 Encampment Pines 1.9 47.2 Encampment Pines 1.4 44.0    The circumferences of these tall striped maples are very consistent. The largest ones I've measured in Mohawk are in the old growth on steep ridges. They vary from 24 to 39 inches CBH. I've exceeded 40 inches only twice for the species - once in Vermont and once on Mt Greylock. A web-based search of descriptions of striped maple commonly list maximum heights as 30 feet. One source gave 15 meters. So if some of the tall tree species are over-stated in the current literature, the striped maple is understated. To the PA ENTS Team:    Well the Massachusetts striped maples have laid down the challenge. Acer pennsylvanicum is calling to you Dale, to you Scott, to you Anthony, to you Ed, and to you Carl. Oh yes, and by the way, so is that very illusive and almost unknown 12th commandment. I was privileged to see it on a fragile clay tablet only weeks ago. Can't reveal the source. It's a secret. "Go ye forth into thine dense forest and seek out the striped maples and measure them once, nay twice, nay thrice and report back to thy ENTS brethren. Dally not, for thou art the keepers of the sacred ciphers."        Imagine how surprised I was to learn of ENTS not just mentioned in the holy scriptures, but the subject of a commandment. Wow! Hmm, gotta have another swig of this great coffee. Wonder what's in it? Bob Robert T. Leverett Cofounder, Eastern Native Tree Society   Home