Acer is a dominant component of temperate deciduous forests. Dipteronia occurs only in China. Shrubs or trees. Plants synoecious, monoecious, synoecious or polygamous. Inflorescence a panicle, raceme, corymb, or axillary cluster.
Flowers perfect or imperfect, regular.
Nectary disc often present. Fruit a samaroid schizocarp with one seed maturing per locule. Economically, several species are important timber sources. The trees produce a fine grained wood useful for furniture. The sugar rich sap of Acer saccharum is the source of maple sugar products.