Acer pycnanthum

Acer pycnanthum
Autumn colors
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Section: Acer sect. Rubra
Species:
A. pycnanthum
Binomial name
Acer pycnanthum

Acer pycnanthum, the Japanese red maple, (ハナノキ, hananoki, or 花の木, hanakaede, meaning "flower maple") is a species of maple native to Japan, and introduced to Korea.[3] A tree usually about 20 m, reaching 30 m, it prefers to grow in relict mountain wetlands. It flowers in April, prior to the emergence of leaves.[4] Although considered Vulnerable in its native habitat, it has found some use as a street tree, and is the official tree of a number of Japanese municipalities and of Aichi Prefecture.[1]

Acer pycnanthum is dioecious, with separate male and female flowers.[5] The bark is grey and longitudinally fissured, sometimes giving a shaggy appearance.[6] The leaves, which emerge a bronze-green color in the spring, are shallowly lobed and have a whitish bloom on the underside. They turn yellow, orange, red, and purple in the autumn.[7] It is similar to the smaller Acer rubrum.[8]

A. pycanthum is suitable for USDA hardiness zone 5.[6] It prefers full sun to partial shade and is hardy in all of the UK and northern Europe.[7] Common problems include aphids and verticillium wilt.[8]

  • Spring flowers and leaf buds
    Spring flowers and leaf buds
  1. ^ a b Harvey-Brown, Y. (2020). "Acer pycnanthum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T193858A2286832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T193858A2286832.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 250 (1864)
  3. ^ "Acer pycnanthum K.Koch". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. ^ Saeki, Ikuyo (2011). "709. Acer pycnanthum". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 28 (2): 141–153. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2011.01738.x.
  5. ^ Renner, S. S.; Beenken, L.; Grimm, G. W.; Kocyan, A.; Ricklefs, R. E. (2007). "The Evolution of Dioecy, Heterodichogamy, and Labile Sex Expression in Acer". Evolution. 61 (11): 2701–2719. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00221.x. PMID 17894810. S2CID 1940661.
  6. ^ a b "Acer pycnanthum - Trees and Shrubs Online". treesandshrubsonline.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  7. ^ a b "Acer pycnanthum | Japanese red maple/RHS Gardening". www.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  8. ^ a b "Japanese Red Maple (Acer pycnanthum) - Plants | Candide Gardening". Candide. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-03-23.