Wood of Acer sp.

Acer is a genus of trees commonly known as maples. The wood of Acer sp. is diffuse-porous, generally with numerous medium-sized pores, giving the wood a very uniform texture. The wood is moderate in density and strength characteristics for a temperate hardwood, and hard maple (Acer saccharum) and field maple (A. campestre) are among the hardest and heaviest of the genus. Maple trees generally have very wide sapwood, meaning most maple lumber is from the light-coloured sapwood (as opposed to the heartwood). Many figured grain patterns are also seen in maple, such as curl, quilt, and birdseye.

Hard maple, also called rock maple, is the strongest, stiffest, hardest, and densest of all the species of maple commercially available in lumber form. It is stronger, stiffer, harder, and denser than all other maple species commercially available in lumber form. The sapwood of maples is commonly white with a slight reddish-brown tinge, and the heartwood is light reddish-brown but sometimes considerably darker. Maple wood stains well and takes a high polish. It is intermediate in glueing and has low decay resistance.

In summary, the wood of Acer sp. is moderate in density and strength characteristics for a temperate hardwood, and hard maple (Acer saccharum) and field maple (A. campestre) are among the hardest and heaviest of the genus. Maple trees generally have very wide sapwood, and many figured grain patterns are also seen in maple, such as curl, quilt, and birdseye. Hard maple, also called rock maple, is the strongest, stiffest, hardest, and densest of all the species of maple commercially available in lumber form.