Aceraceae: The Maple Family
Habit: trees or shrubs, branches opposite
Leaves: opposite, simple, palmately veined or pinnately compound, estipulate
Plants: synoecious, monoecious, dioecious, polygamous
Inflorescence: panicle, raceme, corymb, or axillary cluster
Flowers: perfect or imperfect, regular, nectary disk present
Sepals: 4-5 (6-9), distinct or basally connate, sometimes very reduced
Petals: 4-5 (6-9), distinct or absent
Stamens: 8 (4-10), distinct
Ovary: 2 (3) connate carpels, superior with 2 locules and 2 axile ovules per locule, styles 2 or 1 and divided
Fruit: samaroid schizocarp with 1 seed maturing per locule