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Paperbark Maple
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Trunk and bark of a Paperbark Maple
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| Acer griseum (Franch.) Pax |
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) is a species of maple native to central China. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching 10-18 m tall, and has smooth, shiny orange-red bark, which peels in thin, papery layers. The leaves are compound, with three leaflets, each 4-10 cm long and 2-6 cm broad, dark green above, bright glaucous blue-green beneath. The flowers are produced in small corymbs in spring, the fruit being a paired samara with two winged seeds about 1 cm long with a 3 cm wing.
Paperbark Maple is widely grown as an ornamental plant in temperate regions. It is admired for its decorative exfoliating bark, translucent pieces of which stay attached to the branches until worn away. It also has spectacular autumn color which can include red, orange and pink tones.
Paperbark maple was introduced to cultivation in Europe in 1901 by Ernest Henry Wilson for the Veitch Nurseries, and to North America shortly after.
Recent attempts have been made to acquire new seed stock from wild populations in China because it is believed that the current gene pool of cultivated specimens is very small. Propagation of Acer griseum is somewhat difficult as seeds have the same parthenocaptic tendencies as those of Acer maximowiczianum.[1]
- Bean, W. J. (1970). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, 8th ed, revised. John Murray.
- Rushforth, K. D. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. HarperCollins.
- ^ Maples for Gardens: A Color Encyclopedia by C.J. van Gelderen & D.M. van Gelderen, 1999
