Faculty Bio: Jose Teixeira is a staff member on the Moses Brown Maintenance and Grounds crew. After living in Portugal for the first 15 years of his life, he moved to the United States. Jose’s father also worked at Moses Brown, and in 1986, when Jose was 21 years old, he came to work at the school with his father. Jose sees his tree as a testament to the passage of time, and it reminds him of the many years he has spent at Moses Brown. An avid soccer fan, Jose enjoys maintaining the school’s playing fields and watching the Moses Brown high school team compete.
Scientific Name
Acer palmatum
Family
Sapindaceae (soapberries)
Description
A highly variable, graceful small tree or large shrub with a layered, often umbrella-like branching structure.
Leaves: Opposite, simple, 2–5 inches long/wide, deeply lobed (5, 7, or 9 lobes) with serrated edges; shapes range from broad-lobed to finely dissected "lace-leaf" varieties; colors vary from bright green to deep red.
Bark: Smooth and gray or greenish-gray; thin and susceptible to mechanical damage.
Twigs: Very slender, smooth, and green or red depending on the cultivar.
Flowers: May–June; small, inconspicuous red or purple clusters (corymbs) hanging below the leaves.
Fruits: Late summer; paired winged seeds (samaras), ½–¾ inch long, often reddish, with wings spread at a wide angle.
Other Common Names
Smooth Japanese Maple
Size
Height: 15–25 feet (though some cultivars remain much smaller).