The Canadian flag features a stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the center of a white square, which is itself centered on a red field. The maple leaf is one of the most recognizable symbols of Canada and has been used to represent Canadian identity since the 19th century. The original design for the maple leaf on the National Flag of Canada had 13 points, but this was changed to its current 11-point design to improve the clarity of the symbol. The specific design of the maple leaf that appears in the center of the National Flag of Canada is known as the stylized 11-point maple leaf.