# Is this a leaf, a feather, or a seed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282 "2015-05-04T23:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheUser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@TheUser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUser)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/1 "2015-05-04T23:34:25Z")
I stepped outside today and saw millions of what looked like leaves falling from the trees and whirling in the wind (I’m not sure what trees they were, no idea). I took a few pictures including one close-up. On close inspection these weren’t leaves, they looked more like feathers, but so many small ones? That can’t be right. [![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) [![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RingsOfPylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3da27b/32.png) [@RingsOfPylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RingsOfPylon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/2 "2015-05-04T23:44:07Z")
Hi, They are seeds from maple trees. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/3 "2015-05-05T00:07:52Z")
those are schizocarps ---
**Author:** ![TheUser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@TheUser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUser)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/4 "2015-05-05T00:16:58Z")
Thanks, you were right! Maple-tree seeds. They’re called “samaras”, actually: > **[Maple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple)** > > See either species grouped by sectionsalphabetical list of species > Acer (/ˈeɪsər/) is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae. There are approximately 132 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... ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/5 "2015-05-05T00:27:48Z")
I’m going to take a guess here that you recently moved to your current location, and used to live in some other part of the country where maples are rare. If you haven’t been there since the fall, you’ve got something to look forward to then, too. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/6 "2015-05-05T00:50:08Z")
If you’re very unlucky, those little bastards will turn in to actual goddamn maple trees in your flower beds. Healthy, sturdy, Roundup-impervious maple trees which will grow and grow and keep growing until you finally get a shovel strong enough to get them out. They will also clog the shit out of your gutters. Nature. Harumph. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/7 "2015-05-05T01:27:11Z")
Wow. As a Canadian I find it impossible to not know what these are. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/8 "2015-05-05T01:48:00Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Wow. As a Canadian I find it impossible to not know what these are. I was afraid of sounding all snarky, but I am curious to know where the OP is from that he’s never seen maple seeds before. And maples are not the only trees with whirly-bird seeds. My ash trees dump them by the ton every year. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-leaf-a-feather-or-a-seed/719282/9 "2015-05-05T06:47:03Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > If you’re very unlucky, those little bastards will turn in to actual goddamn maple trees in your flower beds. Healthy, sturdy, Roundup-impervious maple trees which will grow and grow and keep growing until you finally get a shovel strong enough to get them out. > > They will also clog the shit out of your gutters. > > Nature. Harumph. This. And they have the most tenacious root systems that grab the earth and never let go. And if you cut the little bastards at the surface, they’ll just grow back, bigger and stronger.