NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT, PHENOLOGY AND GROWTH OF SILVER MAPLE RELATED TO PROVENANCE

Establishment, phenology, early survival and growth are reported for 10 silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) provenances densely planted in a nursery near Carbondale in southern Illinois. Seed from southern parts of silver maple's range planted in May established well to form dense plantings and seed from northern areas planted in June established poorly. Saplings of the northern provenances commonly had earlier terminal bud set and leaf loss. Spring bud break tended to be earliest for southern provenances. Basal caliper and mean tree weights were greater in plots of the northern plantings. Height and total plot weights were greater in plots of the southern provenances. Trees in four blocks were harvested after two years to determine tree weights and coppice potential. Height growth increment in the unharvested (control) block was greatest in the second of the four years observed