We’ll get into syrup some more, but first, here are a few of the many gifts that bigleaf maple has to offer: But they're kind of a sleeper tree.” Agroforestry Benefits “They’ve been maligned, especially in production forestry. “Bigleaf maples have a lot of secret agroforestry benefits that not everybody knows about,” explains Patrick.
Particularly, one with a “bold and buttery flavor that has hints of vanilla and molasses.”īut that's how Patrick Shults, Extension Forester for Southwest Washington-along with many others-describe the taste of this specialty syrup. Otherwise, not threatened.When you think of our native bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum), you might picture a mossy trunk with delicate licorice ferns. Trees may be adversely affected by the pathogen but are usually not killed by it. Threats and Conservation: Big Leaf Maple is a host for the fungus-like microorganism Phytophthora ramorum, which leads to sudden oak death. The wood is prized by craftsmen to make fine furniture, flooring, musical instruments, carved bowls, and veneer. Modern Uses:Big Leaf Maple is not highly valued as lumber material it is often intentionally knocked over and left in place when stands of redwood and Douglas Fir are commercially harvested. Transportation: The wood was made into canoe paddles (Clallam, Skagit, Snohomish, Nitinaht). Shelter: The limbs were used for house construction (Cahuilla). Wood was used to make paddles and spindle whorls.Īrt and Ceremony: Wood was used to make decorative carvings (Haida, Tsimshian, Tlingit) toys, games, and rattles (Hesquiat) and masks and rattles (Nitinaht, Southern Kwakiutl). Small pieces of wood were also made into a dice-type gambling game (Pomo, Kashya Pomo) and into cradle boards (Lummi, Swinomish). Wood was fashioned into bowls (Nitinaht, Swinomish) and spoons (Karok, Swinomish). The wood was used for smoking salmon (Swinomish, Snohomish, Chehalis, Quinault), while the leaves were made into mats placed in baskets to cook salmon and other food in earth ovens, and also to cover dried, winter-stored salmon (Karuk, Skagit, Snohomish, Lummi). Leaves were used to line hot rocks for cooking acorn bread in an earthen oven (Wintu). A disposable basket-like carrier was made for acorn dough by lining inner bark with leaves (Maidu). Tools and Objects: The leaves, bark, and wood were used for a number of cooking purposes. Women's skirts were made out of the bark fibers (Concow, Karuk, Tolowa). The flexible branches were used as a coarse twine warp and weft in making baskets and as coiling thread for sewing (Maidu). The leaves were used as a cooking flavoring with deer, seal, or porpoise meat (Cowichan, Saanich).įiber:The inner bark was used to make baskets (Concow). The sap was boiled to make syrup, and shoots eaten raw (Thompson). Medicine:An infusion from the bark was used to treat tuberculosis (Yuki, Klallam), and part of the tree was used to treat sore throats and internal conditions (Saanich).įood:The sprouted seeds were boiled and eaten (Costanoan,, Nlaka'pamux). (7.6 m) in circumference.Īnimal Community: The leaves are important browse for deer and elk, and the seeds are eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, and some songbirds. Grows with Pacific Madrone, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Port Orford Cedar, Redwood, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, White Fir, Western Redcedar, Black Cottonwood, California Bay Laurel, Coast Live Oak, Oregon White Oak, Red Alder, White Alder, and Willow. (1800 m).Įcosystem: Found within riparian forests, mixed conifer or oak woodlands.
An isolated population may occur in central Idaho. In wetter climates, they are often covered completely in thick moss and lichens.ĭistribution: Native to southernmost Alaska to southern California, mostly near the Pacific coast, as well as inland, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. The seeds are held in double samaras with wings 1½ to 2 in. (10 to over 36 cm) across, with five deep lobes and large pointed teeth. Its deciduous leaves are also the largest of any maple, ranging from 4 to 14 in. ĭistinctive Characteristics: This is the largest tree of all the maple species. Other Names:Bigleaf Maple, Oregon Maple, Broadleaf Maple, c'ólhac (Lushootseed), qalam (Kashya Pomo), Paddle Tree (Lakwungen), sáan (Karuk), pal gön' shē (Yuki), pkwo'olo' (Yurok).
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