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Sapindaceae
Acer japonicum
Specimen Size: 28.8ft tall, 7.5in in diameter.
Location: North of the walkway to the quad running between the Education building and the Music building.
Historical Background: No tree native in North America has as many ornamental varieties as the Japanese maple. Acer palmatum, while one of 20 maple species native to Japan, is the most common and widely variable with over 300 cultivars today. Its leaves are used to make bouquets in Japan and represent October on the Chinese calendar. It was introduced to Europe for cultivation in the 1800s.
Non-native
Native Range: Japan
Identifying Features: This species is an extremely difficult one to go in depth on identifying features, due to a massive array of phenotypic variations brought on by environment, breeding, and the myriad of other conditions which arises from being one of the more popular ornamental trees in the world. Typically there are general features however, which may be seen on this specimen. Leaves are palmate, usually a green-red to orange (but in other colors too including straight green) that deepens as fall comes (the species is deciduous), with 5-9 lobes all very serrated. They are 2-5” (5-10cm) long and grow in an opposite pattern. The species is slow growing and small in size, with open crowns and very low apical control. Bark is gray to tan with light furrows but otherwise smooth.
Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:
Historic Tree Tour Information: A Japanese maple is west of the Music building facing Miller Hall. There is no tree native in North America has as many ornamental varieties as the Japanese maple. Acer palmatum, while one of 20 maple species native in Japan, is the most common and widely variable. Depending on the variety, it can range from a low bush to a 60 foot (18.3 meter) high tree. The species name palmatum refers to the hand-like shape of the leaves, which can vary greatly in laciness. In color they vary delightfully too. The Music building example has a red tinge at its leaf tips that gives the whole tree a bronze appearance. This tree is planted almost totally as an ornamental. There are hundreds of variations within this species, in terms of form, color, leaf type, size, and preferred growing conditions.
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