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Common name: Paperbark maple
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Latin name: Acer
griseum Common name: Paperbark maple |
Photographs
of winter, summer and fall habit of Acer griseum (Paper
bark maple). The cinnamon colored bark makes this
tree easy to spot throughout much of the year. The
Morton Arboretum's online collection catalog lists
a total of 14 trees with all but one arriving at the
arboretum during the 1950's. This is one of the 4
that are located at the top of Frost Hill. This tree
will almost certainly be pointed out to you if you
take the tram ride. Watch for it on the left side
of the road just before you begin your descent toward Parking
??. Due to its size, shape and low branches, the paperbark
maple provides little shade, but it is a very attractive
ornamental, particularly in the winter. The Acer griseum
prefers full sun, but does will in partial shade.
The flowers of the paperbark maple are yellow-green and appear in the spring. This photo
was taken in mid-May. The wings of the samara (fruit) are already obvious,
but much of the flower remains.
Leaves of the Paper bark maple are trifoliate, coursely toothed, blue-green
on the top and pubescent on the underside. The middle leaflet is short stalked
but the lateral leaflets are almost sessile (without a stalk).
This
picture showing the fruit of the Acer griseum was taken
in late June.
Fruit was lined up in groups of 3 pairs together.
Generally each member of the pair was of equal size. 
Buds of the Paper bark maple are brownish-black. They are sharp-pointed
and narrow conical. This collar is a good identification feature.
The
thin peeling, cinnamon colored bark is the hallmark
of the Paper barked maple. The tree is very smooth
in places where the bark has peeled away.
The bark begin to exfoliate when the trees are young. | Kingdom Plantae -- Plants | |||||||||
| Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants | |||||||||
| Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants | |||||||||
| Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants | |||||||||
| Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons | |||||||||
| Subclass Rosidae | |||||||||
| Order Sapindales | |||||||||
| Family Aceraceae -- Maple family | |||||||||
| Genus Acer L. -- maple P | |||||||||
| Species Acer griseum (Franch.) Pax -- paperbark maple P | |||||||||
Hardiness Zone: 5
Mature Height: 20-30 feet
Mature Form: Rounded to oval
Source for classification listing: USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Karren J. Wcisel © copyright 1999 - 2004
Send email to Karrenw@aol.com