**Description:** A dominant hardwood tree responsible for the region's famous fall colors. They have 5-lobed leaves that turn brilliant orange and red in October.
**Size:** Reaches heights of 60–100 feet with a dense, spreading crown.
**Wildlife Value:** Their seeds (samaras) are a primary food source for squirrels and songbirds. Sap is the gold standard for syrup production.
**Identification:** Features "U-shaped" notches between leaf lobes. Bark on older trees is dark and deeply furrowed.
**Habitat:** A dominant hardwood throughout the Allegheny Plateau.