Silver maple is found throughout the eastern United States and much of eastern Canada, though it is largely absent from central and central southwest counties in West Virginia and is notably missing from high Appalachian elevations and very southern locations. It grows 90-140 feet tall and thrives in moist, alluvial soils along stream banks and lake sides. Shade-tolerant in good soils and favoring early to intermediate successional sites, it can also grow well as an ornamental where management curtails competition. Yellow to greenish flowers appear from March to April, and its winged fruits, called samaras, mature from April to June. The species takes its common name from the silvery underside of its leaves. Its seeds are an important food source for small birds, game birds such as turkeys and ducks, and small mammals, while deer and beaver use the bark. Because it is susceptible to various fungal diseases, it is prone to trunk cavities that are used as nests by squirrels, raccoons, opossums, owls, and woodpeckers. Silver maple has commonly been used in the United States as an ornamental, but because its wood is brittle and susceptible to wind and ice damage, it is no longer recommended and cannot be used in fire-prone areas because it does not tolerate fire. Although the wood is brittle, its texture is smooth and hard and is used for furniture, flooring, musical instruments, crates, and tool handles, and the swirly pattern of its old heartwood is called bird's eye maple. Because of its rapid growth, the species has also been considered for biofuel production. Native Americans used its sap for illnesses including cough, sores, intestinal cramps, and sexually transmitted disease, and also as a sweetener and for making alcoholic beverages.