Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum Thunb.
Acer palmatum, commonly known as Japanese Maple, is a species native to Korea, Japan, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. It is a deciduous (rarely evergreen) tree or shrub (rarely herbaceous) with simple, opposite or alternate leaves. The flowers are small, typically white, with four petals, and appear in terminal cymes or panicles. The samaras are winged and red or black. Cultivars of this species are widely cultivated for their diverse forms and colors.
Description
Acer palmatum belongs to the family Sapindaceae and is characterized by its palmate leaves, which are opposite or alternate and lack a petiole. The flowers are borne in terminal cymes or panicles, with no or inconspicuous bracts. The flowers are typically white, with four oblong petals, and the fruits are two-lobed samaras. The species is distributed across Asia and has been cultivated globally, particularly in gardens and botanical collections. Cultivars are selected for their ornamental value, including variations in leaf shape, color, and growth habit. The species was first described in 1784 by Carl Peter Thunberg.
Other common names
Japanese MapleJapanese-MaplePurple Japanese-MapleSmooth Japanese MapleSmooth Japanese-Maple
Distribution
Ontario · TR · Belgium · Flemish Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · Italy · SE · BR · GE · NO · DK · Global · Jardín Botánico de Bogotá · conterminous 48 United States · Walloon Region · China North-Central · Illinois · Japan · Korea · Maryland · New York
Synonyms
Negundo sessilifoliumAcer decompositumAcer formosumAcer friederici-guillelmiiAcer incisumAcer jucundumAcer ornatumAcer palmatum var. amoenumAcer palmatum var. dissectumAcer palmatum f. latilobumAcer palmatum f. luteoflorumAcer palmatum var. multifidumAcer polymorphum f. roseomarginatumAcer pinnatifidumAcer polymorphumAcer pulverulentumAcer ribesifoliumAcer roseomarginatumAcer sanguineumAcer sessilifoliumAcer palmatum f. argenteomarginatumAcer palmatum var. crispumAcer palmatum f. rhodoneurumAcer palmatum f. albovariegatumAcer palmatum f. rubellumAcer palmatum f. polychromumAcer palmatum f. rhodophyllumAcer palmatum var. ornatumAcer palmatum var. linearilobumAcer palmatum f. rufinerve
