Acer spicatum
 
Mountain Maple

Staminate Flower, Petals and Stamens Removed

70 km North of Hudson Bay, SK on Highway # 9
15-June-2018

In the center of the flower and surrounded by a tuft of hairs is a rudimentary, sterile pistil known as a pistillode.

Spicatum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this species. 

leaves lobed, not pinnate; NOT [leaves pinnate with 3 - 5 leaflets]

leaves with lobes deltoid; NOT [leaves with lobes rhomboid]

leaf base not chordate

inflorescence a many-flowered racemose panicle; NOT [inflorescence a few-flowered corymb]

 

Aceraceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.  Not all the answers apply to all members of this family, but they all do apply to A. spicatum

plants not climbing

large or small trees, or large shrubs; NOT [low shrubs]; NOT [herbs]

plants with normal leaves

leaves opposite; NOT [leaves alternate]

leaves palmately lobed

flowers with two floral rings

each petal distinct from the others

fruit a 2-seeded samara; NOT [fruit fleshy]