Acer truncatum

taxobox
name = "Acer truncatum"

---

image_caption = Foliage
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Sapindaceae
genus = "Acer"
species = "A. truncatum"
binomial = "Acer truncatum"
binomial_authority = Bunge|

"Acer truncatum" (Shantung Maple, Shandong Maple, or Purpleblow Maple) is a maple native to northern China, in the provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, and also Korea.Flora of China (draft): [http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume11/Aceraceae-AGH_finishing.htm "Acer truncatum"] ]

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 15 m tall with a broad, rounded crown. The bark is smooth on young trees, becoming shallowly ridged with age. The leaves are opposite, palmately lobed with five lobes, 5-12 cm long and 7-11 cm broad, with a 3-10 cm petiole; the lobes are usually entire, but occasionally with a pair of teeth on the largest central lobe, and the margin is often wavy. The petiole bleeds a milky latex when broken. The flowers are in corymbs, yellow-green with five petals 5-7 mm long; flowering occurs in early spring. The fruit is a double samara with two winged seeds, the seeds are disc-shaped, slightly flattened, 13-18 mm across. The wings are 2 cm long, widely spread, approaching a 180° angle. The bark is greenish-grey, smooth in young trees, becoming shallowly grooved in mature.

It is closely related to, and often difficult to distinguish from, "Acer amplum", "Acer cappadocicum", and "Acer mono", which replace it further south and west in China, and in Japan. From "Acer cappadocicum" it is best distinguished by the shoots which turn brown by their first winter, not remaining green for several years. From "Acer mono" (syn. "A. pictum" auct. non Thunb.) it is best distinguished by the larger, thicker (less flattened) seeds. "Acer truncatum" is very unusual among maples in showing hypogeal germination.

Cultivation and uses

Shantung Maple is grown as an ornamental plant in Europe and North America.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.] Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.]

A number of cultivars have been selected, including 'Akikaze Nishiki' with variegated leaves, 'Fire Dragon' with very bright autumn colour. The cultivar 'Keithsform' (Norwegian Sunset) is a hybrid between "Acer truncatum" and "Acer platanoides" (Norway Maple). [Oregon State University: [http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/acer-ns.htm Norwegian Sunset] ]

References