bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)

• Size: Grows to 100' tall and 4' in diameter.

• Leaves: Simple, opposite, and deciduous. Very large. Palmately lobed (5 lobes) with the central lobe having a distinct "waist." Long leaf stalk with milky sap.

• Fruit: Double samaras in long clusters; samaras joined at right angles; hairy seeds.

• Twigs: Buds and branchlets are opposite.

• Bark: Grayish or reddish-brown; interlacing ridges and furrows.

• Distribution: Bigleaf maple grows on the west side of the Cascades and Sierras from British Columbia through most of California. It prefers moist, well-drained soils
  

vine maple (Acer circinatum)

• Size: Generally under 20' tall with multiple stems several inches in diameter.

• Leaves: Simple, opposite, deciduous. Palmately lobed with 5-9 lobes (usually 7). Average 2"-4" in diameter. Circular outline.

• Fruit: Double samaras that resemble an airplane propeller.

• Twigs: Opposite buds and branchlets. Twigs often end in 2 buds.

• Bark: Smooth with a greenish tinge.

• Distribution: Vine maple grows throughout the Pacific Northwest. It likes damp places and fairly good soil.
  

Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum)

• Size: Generally under 12' tall and several inches in diameter.

• Leaves: Simple, opposite, deciduous. Palmately lobed with 3 lobes; margins serrate. Leaves 2"-5" in diameter.

• Fruit: Double samaras joined at nearly right angles to one another.

• Twigs: Opposite buds and branchlets. Buds have 2 dark red scales.

• Bark: Smooth with a greenish tinge.

• Distribution: Rocky Mountain maple extends farther east than the other Oregon maples - ranging as far as South Dakota and Nebraska, and as far south as New Mexico and Arizona.

For more information about these species see "Trees to Know in Oregon".