Quote from Starwatcher:I was wondering about the difference between the Red Maple and the Sugar Maple (acer saccharum) that's the emblem on the Canadian flag, that has a similar range up through the area and I'm curious about the variety the Ojibwa in MN depended on the sap for maple syrup.  I know that in Duluth and the up farther north along the Laurention Divide Ridge we get spectular red colors in the fall.  I assume red maple, or maybe both, but I'm not sure.  Any thoughts?  May be I need to start a new thread.  

Big differences between red and sugar....srongly recommend Dirr's woody plant manual....very informative ;)Sugar maple is the one that i am aware of that suits itsself to the sugar shack-I have seen people tap silvers also....dont know about red maple however. The one thing that I have always found curious is that it is not just the sugar in maple syrup or maple sugar that makes it an interesting taste it is also has a substantial salt content....K/ potassium.....My adviser told me on numerous ocassions that the indigeous people pioneered the sweet salty thing....he was also of that genetic make-up.....The other thing that you might find an interesting read in Dirr's manual of woody plants is a reference to black maple-what some believe is a population of sugar maple existing in the north country-the book is in most decent book stores and i would say you could probable find it in any reasonable library. I totally understand the fall color thing check out the temperance drainage up on sawbill trail in mid sept...know those are sugars for sure......note the red oaks in tetteguche too....northern most range....great place for warblers in the spring. Topic....then you'll really get me writting ;) Oh yeah there is every and american elm in the woodland! Seen it myself! And there are ginormous yellow birch on Isle Royale! Oh no I must stop ;D