Acer caudatifolium is an Asian species of maple, found only in Taiwan.[3] The species is sometimes confused with another Taiwanese tree, Acer morrisonense. This species has been known to reach 20 metres tall. Leaves are non-compound, the blade narrowly ovate, up to 11 cm long by 4.5 cm wide, with serrate margins but no lobes.[3][4][5]
| Acer caudatifolium | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Acer |
| Section: | Acer sect. Macrantha |
| Species: | A. caudatifolium
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| Binomial name | |
| Acer caudatifolium Hayata (1911)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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List
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Description
editThis deciduous tree that can reach up to 20 m (66 ft) in height and has thin, glabrous branches. Its leaves are opposite, chartaceous, simple, ovate or ovate-elliptic, 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) in length, and 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) in width. The leaf base is rounded or slightly cordate with finely serrated margins, usually unlobed or shallowly 3-lobed, rarely conspicuously 3-5 lobed. Apex is caudate-acuminate. The adaxial surface of the leaf blade is green while the abaxial surface is light green. Unisexual flowers, monoecious; raceme inflorescence with either glabrous or short pubescence, approximately 5 cm (2.0 in) in length. Flowers are approximately 9 to 10 mm (0.35 to 0.39 in) in width, slender, and glabrous. Calyx has 5 ovate-lanceolate-shaped sepals and is glabrous. 5 White rhomboid petals with undulating margins. The floral disk is thick and shallowly 8-lobed. The pistil of the female flower has a distinct carpel, the ovary has a wing-like structure. The style is 2-fid, connate at the base and curved downward at the apex. The staminodes are about 2 mm (0.079 in) in length. The male flower has 8 stamens surrounding the floral disk, with filaments about 3 mm (0.12 in) in length. The staminodes are approximately 2 mm (0.079 in) in length. The male flower has 8 stamens surrounding the floral disk, with filaments approximately 3 mm (0.12 in) in length. The male flower has 8 stamens surrounding the floral disk, with filaments approximately 3 mm (0.12 in) in length. The mature samara is yellowish brown in color with sickle-shaped wings approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) in length. The angle between the two wings at the lower margin is approximately 120-130 degrees.[6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is endemic to Taiwan. It mainly grows at mid to high elevations in the forests of the Central Mountain Range, often mixed with hinoki cypress in the cloud zone. It is naturally distributed in the Yangmingshan in northern Taiwan at elevations of 650-900 meters.[7][8][9]
Taxonomy
editThere is some disagreement in this species' taxonomy with some sources listing it as Acer caudatifolium,[10] while others as Acer kawakamii.[11][12]
Acer kawakamii was named by Genichi Koidzumi in 1911[13] and was subsequently described and illustrated in later academic articles. No formal holotype was cited; the only mention was that the type specimen was collected from the temperate forest in Mt. Hakkutisan in Alishan.[14] According to a study conducted by Chien-Yu Tseng in 2007, the selected type specimen (DB No. 01924) currently preserved in the University of Tokyo may likely be the species identified by Genichi Koidzumi. Due to the significant morphological variation, particularly in the number of leaf lobes and morphology, the species has been differentiated into different subspecies or varieties. Therefore, because of the difficulty in determining these characteristics, Tseng has suggested listing the species as a single species.[11]
References
edit- ^ Barstow, M.; Crowley, D.; Rivers, M.C. "Acer kawakamii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T193531A2242295. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T193531A2242295.en.
- ^ "Acer caudatifolium Hayata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b Flora of China, Acer caudatifolium Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo. 30(1): 65. 1911. 尖尾枫 jian wei feng
- ^ Hayata, Bunzô 1911. Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo 30(1): 65 description in Latin, commentary in English
- ^ Makino, Tomitarô 1910. Botanical magazine, Shokubutsugaku zasshi 24: 293-294 in English as Acer insulare
- ^ Li, Hui-Lin; Lo, Hann-Chung (1993). Aceraceae. Flora of Taiwan vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Taipei, Taiwan, ROC: Editorial Committee of the Flora of Taiwan, Lungwei Printing Company, Ltd. pp. 591, 593.
- ^ 許, 重洲 (2002). 玉山國家公園關山越嶺古道中之關段森林植群之研究. 屏東: 國立屏東科技大學熱帶農業研究所碩士論文.
- ^ 王, 志強 (2010). 關山野生動物重要棲息環境珍貴稀有植物資源調查(一). 臺東，臺灣: 行政院農業委員會林務局臺東林區管理處委託研究報告.
- ^ 曾喜育、邱清安 (2019). 陽明山國家公園火山口植群與地景變遷調查分析-以磺嘴山與向天山為例. 臺北市，臺灣: 陽明山國家公園管理處委託辦理成果報告.
- ^ "Acer caudatifolium Hayata". Plants of the World Online.
- ^ a b 曾, 千育 (2007). 臺灣地區槭樹屬植物之分類研究─以外部形態與分子證據探討 (in Chinese). 新竹: 國立新竹教育大學碩士論文. pp. 31–65.
- ^ Davis, E. (2021). "Systemic classification of acer" (PDF).
- ^ Koidzum, Gen'ichi. "Observations on the Aceraceae". Botanical Magazine. 25. Tokyo Botanical Society: 102.
- ^ Koidzumi, Gen'ichi (1911). "Revisio Aceracearum Japonicarum". The Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo, Japan. 32 (1). The University of Tokyo: 402.
External links
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Media related to Acer caudatifolium at Wikimedia Commons
