Japanese maple Aceraceae Acer
palmatum Thunb.
symbol: ACPA2
Leaf: Opposite, simple, orbicular in outline, 2 to 5 inches long, serrated margin, 5 to 7 deeply palmate lobes, some cultivars so deeply lobed that leaf appears compound; color highly variable depending on cultivar, commonly deep red.
Flower: Species is monoecious; inconspicuous, small, red to purple, in terminal hanging clusters, appearing in mid to late spring.
Fruit: Double samara, 3/4 to 1 inch long, divergent (90 degrees) wings, reddish brown, maturing in late summer and a bit persistent.
Twig: Slender, glabrous, red or green; buds broadly conical, green or red, base of bud hidden by tan, fuzzy fringe.
Bark: Smooth, light gray, with a somewhat fluted trunk.
Form: A small tree, 10 to 25 feet in height, round crown, typically multistemmed or branches low. Some cultivars have drooping branches.
Looks like: vine maple