Acer oblongum

Acer oblongum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Species: A. oblongum
Binomial name
Acer oblongum
Wall. ex DC. 1824
Synonyms[1]

Acer oblongum, common name Himalayan Maple, Evergreen Maple and Kashmir Maple, is an evergreen Asian species of maple belonging to the soapberry family.


Description

Acer oblongum is a medium-sized evergreen to semi-deciduous tree reaching a height of approximately 15–22 metres (49–72 ft). Unique among maples, this plant stays green all winter. The trunks are buttressed, with a smooth to wrinkled bark. Leaves are opposite, ovate-lanceolate with entire margin, with a petiole 5-12 cm long, with glaucous-green underside and dark green upperside. The young shoots are reddish bronze and finely hairy. The flowers are hermaphroditic, small and inconspicuous, about 4 mm, greenish white, gathered in hairy racemes. The fruits are represented by the typical two-winged samaras, about 2.5 cm long, wind dispersed. It has been introduced for its wood and it is sometimes cultivated in large gardens for its evergreen foliage.[2]

Distribution

Acer oblongum is widespread across central, eastern, and southeastern Asia, from Tibet and northern Pakistan east as far as Japan, including southern China, northern India, and northern Indochina.[3]

Habitat

Acer oblongum prefers humid climate of the Himalayan forests, especially along streams, at an elevation of about 600–2,000 metres (2,000–6,600 ft) above sea level.[4]

References

  1. The Plant List, Acer oblongum Wall. ex DC.
  2. Philips, Roger (1979). Trees of North America and Europe. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN 0-394-50259-0.
  3. Flora of China, Acer oblongum Wallich ex Candolle, 1824. 飞蛾树 fei e shu
  4. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Edinburgh and Glasgow 8:329. 1915
Wikispecies has information related to: Acer oblongum

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, December 17, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.