Japanese Maple
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Japanese Maple Description
The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
is a small deciduous tree native to
Japan, China and South Korea. It can also be classified
as a large shrub as they only grow to average heights
of about 6 to 10 m. It is also known as the Smooth
Japanese Maple.
Multiple trunks per Japanese Maple
is not uncommon, which join very close to the ground.
As these trees grow they tend to take on an umbrella,
or domed, shape. The leaves can vary in size and shape;
they grow from 4 to 12 cm long and sport either 5, 7
or 9 acutely pointed lobes. Japanese Maple
flowers grow in small cymes, with the flowers themselves
having red or purple sepals and 5 white petals. The
fruit of this tree grows in pairs of winged samaras
reaching 3 cm in length.
The Japanese Maple can and does show
a lot of genetic variation. Even the seedlings of an
individual tree can produce trees with different characteristics.
Japanese Maple Subspecies
Acer palmatum amoenum
Acer palmatum matsumurae
Acer palmatum palmatum
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