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ACERACEAE

MAPLE FAMILY

James R. Shevock

Shrubs, trees, sometimes monoecious, dioecious, or with staminate and bisexual flowers
Leaves opposite, generally simple, generally palmately lobed (rarely pinnate), generally deciduous; stipules 0
Inflorescence: panicle, raceme, or umbel-like
Flower small; perianth generally ± yellowish green; sepals (4)5, free; petals generally 5 (sometimes 0, 4, or 6), free, generally sepal-like; stamens generally 8 (sometimes 5, 10, or 12), generally attached to edge of nectary disk; ovary superior, chambers 2, each 2-ovuled
Fruit: generally pair of achenes, conspicuously winged
Seed generally 1 per achene
Genera in family: 2 genera, ± 120 species: n temp, tropical mtns (Dipteronia : 2 species: China). Some Acer important as timber or ornamental, often has bright autumn colors
Reference: [Ogata 1967 Bull Tokyo U For 63:89–206]

ACER

MAPLE


Leaf simple or pinnately compound
Inflorescence: flower clusters drooping, generally appearing before or with emerging leaves
Fruit paired, each with elongate wing ribbed on proximal side
Species in genus: ± 118 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin name for maple)

Native

A. glabrum Torr.

MOUNTAIN MAPLE

Shrub or small tree, 2–6 m, ± erect, dioecious (or staminate plant with some bisexual flowers)
Leaf 2–4 cm wide, palmately lobed
Inflorescence dense, generally < 10-flowered
Flower: petals present
Fruit: body glabrous; wings overlapping or spreading < 45°
Ecology: Moist to fairly dry, montane, rocky slopes, canyons
Elevation: 1500–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, s Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, c US, New Mexico
Complex of 6 vars. (var. glabrum in US Rocky Mtns, c US).

Native

var. diffusum (Greene) Smiley


Stem: twigs generally whitish
Leaf generally 1.2–2.8 cm wide; teeth few, blunt
Inflorescence: peduncle + pedicel 1–2 cm
Fruit: wings spreading generally 45°
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Bioregional distribution: San Jacinto Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Utah
Flowering time: Apr–May
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

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