Acer sterculiaceum explained

Acer sterculiaceum, commonly known as Franchet’s maple or Himalayan maple, is a species of maple tree in the soapberry family. It is indigenous to Bhutan, northern India, and southwestern and central China (Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan).^[1]

Acer sterculiaceum grows at altitudes of 1800-. It is a tree up to 20 meters tall with dark gray or grayish-brown bark. Leaves are palmately lobed, usually with 3 or 5 lobes but occasionally 7. Leaves are up to 20 cm long, thick and a bit leathery, dark green and hairless on the top, lighter green and woolly on the underside.^{[1] [2]}

Subspecies^[3]

• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii (Pax) A.E.Murray - central and southwestern China
• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum - Yunnan, Tibet, Bhutan, India
• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. thomsonii (Miq.) A.E.Murray - northern India

External links

• • Encyclopedia of Life

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200013113 Flora of China, Acer sterculiaceum Wallich, 1830. 苹婆枫 ping po feng
2. http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/2010-68-2-qinling-maple-acer-tsinglingense-or-franchet-s-maple-acer-sterculiaceum-subsp-franchetii.pdf Douglas Justice, 2010. Qingling maple, Acer tsinglingense, or Franchet's maple, Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii. Arnoldia 68(2):57-58
3. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2616495 The Plant List, Acer sterculiaceum Wall.