Hul'q'umi'num' name:
q’umun’ulhp ~ q’umul’ulhp
English Name:
Bigleaf Maple
Alternative English Names:
Bigleaf Maple, Oregon Maple, Broadleaf Maple
Scientific Name:
Acer macrophyllum
Click/tap on the button to jump to that section:
Description
Description, Habitat, Ecology, Distribution
This species has the largest leaves of any maple, hence the common name (and the scientific specific epithet macrophyllum, which means big leaf). It is a large, often multi-stemmed, deciduous tree, which may reach a height of 35 m (115 ft). The greenish-yellow flowers, which are borne in large, hanging clusters, mature to produce winged fruits (samaras) that are disseminated by wind. This tree occurs on dry to moist sites, at low to middle elevations from southwestern British Columbia to southern California. It occurs throughout the Hul’q’umi’num’ territory.
Island Cultural Role
Bigleaf maple wood has been used for paddles, bowls, spoons, utensils, for carving and to smoke fish. The "sap" (cambium), removed from the layer between the bark and the wood, is a traditional food. The winged fruits, which fly through the air like a whirlybird, were used as a lure for fishing lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) and "red snapper" (or yelloweye rockfish, Sebastes ruberrimus). The large leaves were used as an undermat for drying some edible fruits and roots.Used for willow baskets. The rangy ones at higher altitudes are used for paddles.
Language
Hul'q'umi'num' Name
q’umun’ulhp ~ q’umul’ulhp
APA
q̓əmən̓əłp ~ q̓əməl̓əłp
Speaker
Delores Louie
Hul'q'umi'num' Name 2
ts’alhulhp
APA
c̓ałəłp
Speaker
Delores Louie
Learn More
Photos
Featured Plant
