Acer tibetense W.P. Fang

Sponsor

Kindly sponsored by
The Wynkcoombe Arboretum

Credits

Dan Crowley (2020)

Recommended citation
Crowley, D. (2020), 'Acer tibetense' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-tibetense/). Accessed 2024-04-19.

Genus

Acer
Sect. Platanoidea

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

Tibet: Traditional English name for the formerly independent state known to its people as Bod now the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. The name Xizang is used in lists of Chinese provinces.
Xizang: See Tibet.

References

Credits

Dan Crowley (2020)

Recommended citation
Crowley, D. (2020), 'Acer tibetense' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-tibetense/). Accessed 2024-04-19.

Foliage of Acer tibetense with greenish branchlets and 5-to 7-lobed leaves (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

A deciduous tree to 20 m. Bark greyish-brown. Branchlets glabrous, green, turning brown only after several years. Buds ovoid, with 5 to 10 pairs of imbricate scales, brown. Leaves broadly pentagonal in outline, base cordate to rounded, (3–)5(–7) -lobed, 6–15 × 5–15 cm, lobes broadly ovate, apically acute to acuminate, margins entire, upper surface mid to dark green, lower surface pale green, densely tomentose throughout, petiole to 15 cm long, green, often grooved, broadest at base, exuding a milky sap when broken; autumn colours yellow to red. Inflorescence corymbose. Flowers, 5-merous, sepals oblong, ~3 mm long, petals obovate, 4–5 mm long, stamens 8. Samaras 3.5–4 cm long, wings spreading horizontally or nearly so. Nutlets flattened. Flowering in April (China), appearing with the leaves, fruiting in October. (Fang 1939; Xu et al. 2008).

Distribution China South eastern Xizang India Aranachul Pradesh

Habitat Forests and valleys between 1600 and 2700 m asl.

USDA Hardiness Zone 8-9

RHS Hardiness Rating H4

Conservation status Vulnerable (VU)

Originally in cultivation from a Frank Kingdon-Ward collection made in Tibet (now Xizang Province, China), what was seemingly the sole tree, at Exbury Gardens, Hampshire, UK, was lost sometime between 1980 and 2012 (K. Rushforth pers. comm. 2020). However, material has recently been re-introduced to UK cultivation, with plants present at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Westonbirt Arboretum, and, once more, at Exbury. The Westonbirt plant, grafted on to A. platanoides, has grown vigorously since its planting in 2016 and has since been successfully repropagated. Its growth appears somewhat flimsy at first and it retains its leaves until late in the year, showing little autumn colour.

The lamina lower surface of Acer tibetense is densely pubescent (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Green present year shoot of Acer tibetense (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Branchlets of Acer tibetense remain greenish the first few years at least (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Long-stalked, pentagonal 5-to 7-lobed leaves are typical for Acer tibetense (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

The lamina of Acer tibetense is similar to A. cappadocicum, but differs in the pubescent lower surface (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 29 September 2015). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

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