Nomenclature and History
Carl Linnaeus named this genus "Acer" from the ancient Latin word for maples in 1753. This species was first collected in Colorado in 1820 and was named "glabrum" ("smooth" in Latin) by John Torrey in 1827.(1)
Range
This species can be found
in Western North America from Alaska to New Mexico. There have also been sightings as far south as Mexico! (2)
Ancient Uses
Rocky Mountain Maple's pliable stems "were used by various American Indian tribes to make drying racks, drum hoops, snowshoe frames, spears, pegs, toys,
and masks. The fibrous bark was woven into mats and rope." (3)
Other sources described multiple ways to prepare and eat Rocky Mountain Maple such as cooking young shoots like asparagus or crushing the leaves to use as a spice (4). Although it sounds as though it was consumed only in dire circumstances.
Sources describe it as a cure-all including:
poison antidote
antiemetic
useful substance during and after child birth
Rocky Mountain Maple Today
This species is a beautiful part of our natural and cultivated landscapes. It is a useful plant for reducing erosion, improving wildlife habitat after fires, and establishing low maintenance landscapes.
In the northern part of its range, Rocky Mountain Maple is an important for both browse and shelter for bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer and elk. (5) Animals mainly consume the buds and new growth, although it typically grows quickly enough to be out of reach for most animals.
It grows well with a variety of different species we cultivate including:
Rocky Mountain Juniper, Juniperus scopulorum
Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa
Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta
Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides
Saskatoon serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia
Kinnickinnick, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflora
Red elderberry, Sambucus racemosa
Mountain snowberry, Symphoricarpos oreophilus
Mock Orange, Philadelphus lewisii
White Spirea, Spiraea betulifolia
Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium
Sources
1. https://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Tree%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/acer.htm
2. https://www.usanpn.org/nn/Acer_glabrum
3. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_acgl.pdf
4. https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acer+glabrum
5. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/acegla/all.html
Photos
Map: https://www.usanpn.org/nn/Acer_glabrum
Snowshoes: Western Subartic Antique Indian Snowshoes. circa 1890 – 1920. Photo Courtesy & Copyright VintageWinter.com