Striped maple is a tree up to 13m but is generally shorter and can be a shrub. It is unique because its bark has greenish stripes and its leaves, which are more finely serrated than other maples, and glarbous across the lower surface. Its inflorescence, a slender drooping terminal raceme 10-15cm long, dangles downward, the flowers are ~6mm wider and have yellow petals. Trees are usually dioecious, but may change from year to year (eg, an individual may bear female flowers one year and male flowers the next). Samaras (winged seeds) are connected in pairs and diverge from one another at angles of 90-120 degrees. Seed cavities are usually indented on one site, nutlets are 20mm long. Leaves are serrate, have 7-12 points per cm, are 3-lobed, glabrous across lower surface, and turn bright yellow in the fall.
Acer spicatum has erect inflorescences versus dangling, like those of A pensylvanicum.
