Acer truncatum subsp. mono
Bunge,
Painted maple
gbif· cc0
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
gbif· cc0
University of Maryland, Norton-Brown Herbarium (MARY-)
Summary
Source: WikipediaAcer truncatum, the Shantung maple, Shandong maple, or purpleblow maple, is a maple native to northern China, in the provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, and to Korea. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 15 metres (49 ft) 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 centimetres (2.0 in) to 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long and 7 centimetres (2.8 in) to 11 centimetres (4.3 in) broad, with a 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) 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 millimetres (0.20 in) to 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long; flowering occurs in early spring. The fruit is a double samara with two winged seeds, the seeds are disc-shaped, slightly flattened, 13 millimetres (0.51 in) to 18 millimetres (0.71 in) across. The wings are 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long, widely spread, approaching a 180° angle. The bark is greenish-grey, smooth in young trees, becoming shallowly grooved in mature. It is drought and heat resistant. It is closely related to, and often difficult to distinguish from, Acer amplum, Acer cappadocicum, and Acer pictum subsp. 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.
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
Edible Uses
Young leaves are eaten as a potherb, and older leaves are used as a tea substitute.
Traditional Uses
The young leaves are eaten as a potherb. The older leaves are used as a tea substitute.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It needs sun and a well drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Korea, Mongolia,
Production
It grows rapidly.
Notes
There are about 120-150 Acer species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Hatu chagan
References (2)
- Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 522 (As Acer mono)
- Khasbagan, Hu-Yin Huai, and Sheng-Ji pei, 2000, Wild Plants in the Diet of Athorchin Mongol Hrdsmen in Inner Mongolia. Economic Botany 54(4): 528-536
