• The maple tree has distinct leaves.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Of the more than 100 species of maple trees in the world, 14 are native to the U.S. In addition to making syrup and maple products, these trees are harvested for landscape and ornamental uses. They have distinct foliage that makes ideal shade in summer and turns brilliant colors in autumn. Though often similar in appearance, different maple varieties can be identified by characteristics including leaf shape and bark texture.
  
  

Leaf Shape

• Most maple trees have multi-lobed, hand-shaped leaves, but leaf shape varies slightly among maple trees. The leaves of the sugar maple are usually five-lobed and, 3- to 6-inches long with smooth margins. Black maple leaves are similar but have a wider shape and usually only three lobes. The leaves of the red maple have serrated edges and are 2 to 4 inches long with three or five lobes and shallow clefts between lobes. The silver maple has leaves with serrated margins that are 3 to 5 inches long, five-lobed and deeply clefted.
  
  

Bark Texture

• Most maple trees have smooth bark when young, with increasing texture as the trees age. Sugar maple bark is generally brown, eventually becoming darker and developing irregular furrows and ridges that curl outward. Black maple bark is dark gray, becoming almost black and furrowed or scaly with age. The bark of the red maple starts out light gray but eventually darkens and forms long, fine scaly plates. Silver maples have bark similar to red maples, only coarser.
  
  

Syrup Production

• Sugar, black, red and silver maples all produce sap than can be used for making maple syrup and other products. The sap of the sugar maple is preferred for syrup production because it has the highest sugar content. So while black, red and silver maples can be used, it takes twice as much sap to make the same amount of syrup. Some ornamental maple trees like Norway maple produce milky sap that cannot be used to make syrup.