Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Sapindales>Aceraceae>Acer palmatum Thunberg

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) leaf

Japanese Maple is a small tree native to Japan and South Korea that is very common in cultivation, but rarely escapes to suburban woodlands. There are a small number of escaped saplings in the forest understory next to the Phytotron building on the Duke University campus.

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) leaf

The deciduous, alternate leaves are coarsely toothed, with red petioles.

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) leaves

Each leaf has seven deep palmate lobes.

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) stem

Bark of young stems is green.

Durham, NC 4/14/2011.

More information:
Invasive.org
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Wikipedia

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