Acer sterculiaceum, commonly known as Franchet’s maple[2] or Himalayan maple,[citation needed] is a species of maple tree in the soapberry family. It is indigenous to Bhutan, northern India, and southwestern and central China (Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan).[3]

Acer sterculiaceum
Tall trees full of leaves in a grassy land.
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Acer
Section: Acer sect. Lithocarpa
Species:
A. sterculiaceum
Binomial name
Acer sterculiaceum
Wall. 1830 not K. Koch 1869
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Acer villosum Wall. 1830 not J. Presl & C. Presl 1822
  • Acer franchetii Pax
  • Acer huianum W.P.Fang & C.C.Hsieh
  • Acer kungshanense W.P.Fang & C.Y.Chang
  • Acer kungshanense var. acuminatilobum (W.P.Fang & Chow) W.P.Fang
  • Acer lungshengense W.P.Fang & L.C.Hu
  • Acer schoenermarkiae Pax
  • Acer schoenermarkiae var. oxycolpum Hand.-Mazz.
  • Acer tsinglingense W.P.Fang & C.C.Hsieh
  • Acer platanifolium Griff. 1848 not Stokes 1812
  • Acer thomsonii Miq.

Acer sterculiaceum grows at altitudes of 1,800–3,100 metres (5,900–10,200 ft). It is a tree up to 20 meters tall with dark gray or grayish-brown bark. Leaves are palmately lobed, usually with 3 or 5 lobes but occasionally 7. Leaves are up to 20 cm long, thick and a bit leathery, dark green and hairless on the top, lighter green and woolly on the underside.[3][2]

Subspecies[1]
  • Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii (Pax) A.E.Murray - central and southwestern China
  • Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum - Yunnan, Tibet, Bhutan, India
  • Acer sterculiaceum subsp. thomsonii (Miq.) A.E.Murray - northern India

References

edit
edit
  • "Acer sterculiaceum". Plants for a Future.
  • Encyclopedia of Life