David's maple

Distribution.
Native to Central China. In Russia it is present at the state farm "Southern Cultures" (Adler), where it grows well - in 15 years it reached a height of 6 m and was completely undamaged at frosts of -12-14°. Apparently it can also grow further north along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in southern Crimea.

A deciduous tree up to 15 m tall, the trunk bark smooth, green, with white and brown stripes.

Leaves simple, entire, ovate-oblong, 8-16 cm long, slenderly acuminate at the tip, rounded or cordate at the base, with serrate margins; leaf petioles 1.5-5 cm long. In young plants the leaves are often lobed at the base.

Flowers yellowish, in thin pendulous racemes 6-10 cm long; racemes of staminate (male) flowers are shorter. The wings of the fruits spread almost horizontally, the wing with the seed measuring 2.5-3 cm. Blooms in May; fruits ripen in September.

Uses. An attractive tree with large entire leaves, decorative orange-yellow and purple autumn foliage, and in winter the glossy green bark of the trunk and branches with narrow longitudinal white stripes. Deserves wider planting in southern parks as a solitary specimen and in small groups. A beautiful park tree.