<P> See either species grouped by sections alphabetical list of species </P> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Distribution </Td> </Tr> <P> Acer / ˈeɪsər / is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple . The genus is placed in the Sapindaceae family . There are approximately 128 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America . Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere . The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe . </P> <P> Most maples are trees growing to a height of 10--45 m (33--148 ft). Others are shrubs less than 10 meters tall with a number of small trunks originating at ground level . Most species are deciduous, and many are renowned for their autumn leaf colour, but a few in southern Asia and the Mediterranean region are evergreen . Most are shade - tolerant when young and are often riparian, understory, or pioneer species rather than climax overstory trees with a few exceptions such as Sugar Maple . Many of the root systems are typically dense and fibrous, inhibiting the growth of other vegetation underneath them . A few species, notably Acer cappadocicum, frequently produce root sprouts, which can develop into clonal colonies . </P>

How many kinds of maple trees are there