Maple

Field Maple (Acer campestre )

The maples ( Acer ) are a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily of the horse chestnut family ( Hippocastanoideae ) within the family of Soapberry ( Sapindaceae ). Depending on the author, there are 110 to 200 maple species. They are widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions of Eurasia, North Africa, Central and North America. Many species are used in many ways.

• 2.1 wood
• 2.2 Maple Syrup
• 2.3 ornamentals
• 2.4 Miscellaneous

• 8.1 Notes and references

Description and ecology

Appearance and leaves

Maple species as grow mostly deciduous or rarely evergreen trees or shrubs.

The oppositely arranged leaves are continually divided into petiole and leaf blade. The most simple leaf blade is usually lobed palmate. Some species have unpaired pinnate leaf blades, with three or five leaflets, for example, the ash - maple (Acer negundo ). There is a hand-shaped venation. The leaf margin is smooth or serrated. There are no stipules present. Many species possess an intense autumn colors of the leaves.

Inflorescences and flowers

The flowers are borne in schirmtraubigen or doldigen, rarely racemose or paniculate inflorescences large.

The flowers are hermaphrodite rare, but usually functionally unisexual. The radial symmetry flowers are usually fünfzählig double perianth ( perianth ). There are usually five, rarely four or six sepals present. There are usually five, rarely four or six petals present, rarely absent. There are usually eight, rarely four, five, ten or twelve free stamens present. Two carpels are fused into a superior ovaries. The carpel is rarely observed, usually two ovules. The stylus is usually bifurcated and there are two scars present. We distinguish between insect-and wind-pollinated species. In insect -pollinated ( entomophily ) species at the base of the flowers a discus is present, because he is the attraction of insects.

The flowers formula is:.

Fruit and seeds

There shall be gap fruits that fall off as two winged nut fruits (Samara ). The fruit performs its special aerodynamic shape ( monopteros ) when dropped into autorotation, this results in a slower decrease of seeds and a large-scale distribution of diaspores by wind.

In the mature seed endosperm is not available. The oil or starchy embryo has an extended radicle and two flat or folded, green cotyledons ( cotyledons ).

Sets of chromosomes

The basic chromosome number is x = 13; it is usually diploidy ago, so 2n = 26

Use

Wood

Maple wood is mainly used as construction and furniture wood. Commercially relevant is especially the wood of some tall-growing species such as sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and the pointed maple ( Acer platanoides ) in Eurasia. In North America, especially the sugar maple (Acer saccharum ) and the black sugar maple are (Acer saccharum subsp. Nigrum) as " hard maple " and the red maple (Acer rubrum) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum ) than American soft maple important. The Japanese maple (Acer pictum ) plays a central role in East Asia. Other species such as the Field Maple (Acer campestre ) have only a minor or regional importance.

The wood of the maple sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) is one of the precious hardwoods. Yellowish - white colored to white, the annual rings are easily recognized sapwood and heartwood contact but not from each other, but are the same color. The medium-weight, elastic, tough, hard wood shrinks only slightly. The flexural strength is good. The wood is not very weather resistant. The surfaces can be good edit, easy to polish, stain and ink. The treatment with paints is easy.

Especially in 1950s and in the first half of the 1960s were simple as well as figured ( flamed maple) maple veneers highly sought after for bedroom furniture, solid for drawers and small furniture. Also, as a contrast wood in the form of edges and moldings it was often used. Because of its tendency to relatively rapid yellowing of use for exterior doors in furniture was avoided. Today it is used in quality furniture or for the inner lining. Cabinet makers used the maple wood for the production of fine furniture, and it is also used for marquetry ( inlaid ). A special type of use of the maple table tops are made ​​of solid wood and unpainted for pub tables. Parquet made ​​of American hard maple is considered to be particularly valuable and is characterized by a high wear resistance. Also for staircase, it is well suited.

For a long Chosen sycamore wood is used as an ornamental and resonant wood for making musical instruments (bowed, plucked and wind instruments, drums boiler). Bottoms, sides and necks made ​​of maple are the rule for classical stringed instruments. Particularly popular here is maple, with veneered parts and birdseye maple. Turners, carvers and sculptors use for their work like maple because fine details can be worked out here. Also for sports, games and kitchen appliances the fine-pored wood is needed. Strong branches and crooked trunks go as industrial wood in the chipboard industry or are in high demand for firewood.

Maple syrup

From the sap of the sugar maple native to North America (Acer saccharum ) Maple syrup is obtained. This is made by boiling down the exiting after tapping from the family tree juices.

Ornamental plants

Many varieties of different maple species are used as ornamental plants for gardens, parks and avenues. You can edit the maple as bonsai. There are a number of up to buntlaubigen kugelkronigen varieties.

Others

Veterinary medical importance is the " Red maple toxicosis ," called disease of animals after eating the withered leaves of the red maple (Acer rubrum).

Cultural History

After the traditional folk superstitions of the maple provides effective protection against witches. So the doors and parlors were decorated with maple in Pomerania, Mecklenburg, the witches of stables to be held by pins are turned from maple wood in the doors and sills. The same effect will be achieved if on 24 June maple branches are placed on doors and windows. This ritual is to protect against lightning. To protect against moles potato and flat fields were surrounded by maple branches in Revensburgischen. From the Alsace is known that maple branches on doors bats are designed to keep the house.

In folk medicine, the picked on June 24 maple leaves are dried and softened in boiling water. They apply to all wounds healing powers.

In Bavaria it is believed that quite fat maple leaves indicate a good, fruitful harvest. Furthermore, the dousing of the roots has been handed down with wine - so that should be a wish come true.

Famous is the sycamore to Trun in the canton of Grisons. Under him the upper or gray covenant was sworn on 16 May 1424. 1750 had the tree a total of 16 meters. 1824 were from the former three strains two. As 1870, the nearly 500 -year-old maple was overturned by a storm, was planted at the same place from a seed of the old, a young sycamore which stands there to this day. 1890, the rhizome of the old tree was officially transferred to the boardroom of large federal and is now in the Museum Sursilvan in Trun. Also in place and field names of the maple is often used. In the Upper Valais corresponds to " Agarn " and in the French territory " Ayer " the word " maple ".

Symbolism

The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada and is on the Canadian flag used since 1965 for the vast forests of the country. The template probably supplied the sugar maple (Acer saccharum ). In China, the maple is a symbol of official dignity.

Distribution areas

The widespread genus Acer is found in northern Africa, Eurasia, Central and North America. The "Acer " species thrive in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions, in the tropics, but only in the mountains. Many maple species have a Holarctic distribution. In each case, many species have their home in Asia and North America. 99 species occur in China, 61 of them only there. 13 species occur in Nepal and eight kinds in Pakistan.

Since the ice ages only a few maple species are native to Europe. In German-speaking countries come next pointed maple ( Acer platanoides ), sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus ) and field maple ( Acer campestre ) and French Maple ( Acer monspessulanum ), Snowball maple (Acer opalus ) and Tartarian steppes maple ( Acer tataricum ) wild before.

System

The genus name Acer was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, pp. 1054-1056. As lectotype 1913 Acer pseudoplatanus L. has been set. Synonyms for Acer L. are: Argentacer Small, Negundo Boehm. ex Ludw. , Rufacer Small, Rulac Adans. , Saccharodendron ( Raf. ) Nieuwl ..

Molecular investigation revealed that the genus Acer Hippocastanoideae belongs to the subfamily within the family Sapindaceae. It was formerly placed in the independent family of the maple family ( Aceraceae ).

The genus maple (Acer) comprises about 110 to 200 species. The genus is divided into the following sections, with some sections ( sect. ) are further subdivided into finer series ( ser. ):

• Section Acer sect. Acer: It contains about ten species in the northern hemisphere: Series Acer water. Acer: Acer cesium Wall. ex Brandis: It is distributed from northern India, Pakistan and Nepal to China.
• Called Greek maple, also Caucasian Maple ( Acer heldreichii Orph. Ex Boiss. )
• Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)
• Velvet maple ( Acer velutinum Boiss. )
• Acer wuyuanense W.P.Fang & Y.T.Wu

• Granada maple ( Acer granatense Boiss, Syn. Opalus Acer subsp granatense ( Boiss. ) FQ & Rothm, Acer opalus subsp hispanicum ( Pourret ) Murray, Acer hispanicum Pourret. .. )
• Balkan maple ( Acer hyrcanum fish. & C.A.Mey. )
• French maple, castles maple ( Acer monspessulanum L.)
• Snowball maple (Acer opalus million )
• Crete maple ( Acer sempervirens L.)

• Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall): sect. Acer water. Saccharodendron

• Acer acuminatum Wall. ex D.Don
• Feinzähniger maple (Acer argutum Maxim. )
• Acer barbinerve Maxim.
• Acer grandidentatum Nutt.
• Acer stachyophyllum Hiern

• Tatar steppe maple (Acer tataricum L.): There are four subspecies: Fire - Maple or Amur maple ( Acer tataricum subsp. Ginnala ( Maxim. ) Wesmael )
• Acer tataricum subsp. semenovii ( Regel & Herder) A.E.Murray
• Acer tataricum L. subsp. tataricum
• Acer tataricum subsp. theiferum ( W.P.Fang ) Y.S.Chen & P. C. de Jong

• Series Acer water. Glabra: Bare maple (Acer glabrum Torr. ): Sect. Glabra water. Glabra

• Acer laurinum Hassk ..
• Acer pinnatinervium Merrill

• Hainbuchenblättriger maple (Acer Siebold & Zucc carpinifolium. )

• Series Acer water. Lithocarpa: it contains about nine species in Asia: Acer diabolicum flower ex K.Koch
• Acer sterculiaceum Wall.

• Oregon Maple ( Acer macrophyllum Pursh )

• Red Snakeskin Maple (Acer capillipes Maxim. )
• Acer caudatifolium Hayata ( Syn: Acer kawakamii Koidzumi, Acer Taiton - montanum Hayata ): It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 200-2100 m only in Taiwan.
• Acer chienii Hu & WCCheng: It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 2200-3000 meters only in the northwestern Yunnan.
• Weißdornblättriger maple (Acer Siebold & Zucc crataegifolium. )
• David's Maple (Acer davidii Franch. ): It is distributed in Myanmar and China.
• Acer forrestii Diels: It grows in mixed forests in valleys at altitudes 3000-3800 meters only in the southwestern Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan.
• Acer komarovii Pojarkova: It occurs in northern Korea, eastern Russia and the Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning.
• Acer laxiflorum Pax: It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 1800-2500 meters only in Sichuan and Yunnan.
• Acer maximowiczii Pax (Acer urophyllum Maxim. ): It is distributed in China.
• Acer metcalfii Rehder: It grows in mixed forests of rivers at altitudes between 800 and 1500 meters in the northern Guangdong, Guangxi northeastern, southeastern Guizhou and southern Hunan.
• Kleinblütiger maple (Acer Siebold & Zucc micranthum. )
• Acer morrisonense ( Syn: Acer rubescens Hayata ): It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 1800-2200 meters only in the eastern and southern Taiwan.
• Acer pectinatum Wall. ex G.Nicholson nom. illeg. and nom. Superfl. (there is a new valid name required): It comes from northeastern India through Bhutan, Nepal and the north-eastern Myanmar to China before.
• Stripe maple ( Acer pensylvanicum L.)
• Rotnerviger Snakeskin Maple (Acer Siebold & Zucc rufinerve. )
• Acer sikkimense Miq. ( Syn: . Miq Acer hookeri, Acer medogense TZHsu & ZKZhou, Acer pluridens TZHsu & H.Sun ): It comes from Assam, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan over northern Myanmar and south-eastern Tibet to Yunnan before.
• Korean Snakeskin Maple (Acer tegmentosum Maxim. ): It is found in Siberia, Korea and China.
• Acer tschonoskii Maxim. It occurs in Japan.
• Acer wardii W.W.Sm. ( Syn: Acer mirabile Handel-Mazzetti ): It comes from the north-eastern India on the north-eastern Myanmar and eastern Tibet to the north-western Yunnan before.

• Series Acer water. Cissifolia: Henry maple (Acer henryi Pax )
• Cissusblättriger maple (Acer cissifolium ( Siebold & Zucc. ) K.Koch )

• Ash - maple (Acer negundo L.)

• Acer albopurpurascens Hayata: It grows in forests at altitudes between 400 and 2000 meters only in Taiwan.
• Tricorn maple, Dreispitziger maple (Acer buergerianum Miq. ): It is found in China and Japan.
• Acer cordatum Pax: It is distributed in China.
• Acer coriaceifolium Lev. ( Syn: Acer cinnamomifolium Hayata ): It is distributed in China.
• Acer gracilifolium WPFang & Ccfu: It grows in mixed forests near rivers at altitudes between 300 and 1000 meters only in the southeastern Gansu and northern Sichuan.
• Acer lucidum FPMetcalf FP Metcalf ( Syn: Acer laikuanii Y.Ling, Acer pehpeiense WPFang & HYSu, Acer wuyishanicum WPFang & CMTan ): It is distributed in China.
• Acer oblongum Wallich: It is distributed from northern India on Kashmir, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam to the southern Japan.
• Acer paihengii Hu & WCCheng: It thrives in laurel forests at altitudes 700-1100 m only in southeastern Yunnan.
• Acer paxii Franch. Thrives in mountain forests at altitudes 1500-2500 meters in China.
• Acer poliophyllum WPFang & YTWu: It grows in mixed forests at altitudes between 1000 and 1800 meters only in the southwestern Guizhou and southeastern Yunnan.
• Acer shihweii F.Chun & WPFang: This very rare species grows in dense forests at altitudes of about 1400 meters in Guizhou only in Pingba.
• Acer sycopseoides F.Chun: It grows in forests at altitudes 600-2100 m only in northern Guangxi, southern Guizhou and central Yunnan.
• Acer yinkunii WPFang: This rare species thrives in open forests at altitudes between 1000 and 2000 meters only in Guangxi.
• Acer yui WPFang: It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 1800-2000 meters only in southern Gansu and northwest Sichuan.

• Acer calcaratum Gagnep.
• Acer campbellii Hook. f & Thomson ex Hiern
• Acer ceriferum Rehder ( Syn: Acer anhweiense WP Fang & MY Fang, Acer robustum Pax non Opiz )
• Acer chapaense Gagnep.
• Acer chingii Hu
• Vine leaf maple ( Acer circinatum Pursh )
• Acer confertifolium Merrill & FPMetcalf ( Syn: Acer john- edwardianum FPMetcalf )
• Acer crassum Hu & W.C.Cheng
• Acer duplicatoserratum Hayata
• Acer elegantulum WPFang & PLChiu ( Syn: Acer olivaceum WPFang & PLChiu, Acer yaoshanicum WPFang )
• Acer erianthum heavy. ( Syn: Acer oxyodon Franch ex WPFang, Acer stachyanthum Franchet ex WPFang non Hiern. )
• Acer fabri Hance ( Syn: Acer fargesii Veitch ex Rehder, Acer prainii H.Lév. )
• Acer fenzelianum Handel-Mazzetti
• Acer flabellatum Rehder ( Syn: Acer gracile WPFang & MYFang non Saporta, Acer mapienense WPFang, Acer shangszeense WPFang & TPSoong )
• Acer hilaense Hu & W.C.Cheng
• Japanese Maple (Acer japonicum Thunb. )
• Acer kuomeii W.P.Fang & M.Y.Fang
• Acer kwangnanense Hu & WCCheng (Acer fengii AEMurray )
• Acer kweilinense WPFang & MYFang ( Syn: Acer huangpingense TZHsu )
• Acer laevigatum Wall.
• Acer linganense W.P.Fang & P.L.Chiu
• Acer miaoshanicum W.P.Fang
• Acer oligocarpum WPFang & LCHU ( Syn: Acer foveolatum CYWu )
• Olivers maple (Acer oliverianum Pax, Syn: Acer lanpingense WPFang & MYFang, Acer schneiderianum Pax & K.Hoffmann )
• Acer osmastonii Gamble
• Subjects maple ( Acer palmatum Thunb. )
• Acer pauciflorum WPFang ( Syn: Acer changhuaense ( WPFang & MYFang ) WPFang & PLChiu, Acer pubipalmatum WPFang )
• Korean subjects maple ( Acer pseudosieboldianum ( Pax ) Kom )
• Acer pubinerve Rehder
• Acer pubipetiolatum Hu & W.C.Cheng
• Acer serrulatum Hayata
• Shirasawas subjects maple ( Acer shirasawanum Koidz. )
• Siebold subjects maple ( Acer sieboldianum Miq. )
• Acer sinense Pax
• Acer Sino- oblongum F.P.Metcalf
• Acer tonkinense Lecomte
• Acer tutcheri Duthie
• Acer wangchii W.P.Fang
• Acer wilsonii Rehder ( Syn: Acer angustilobum Hu, Acer sichourense ( WPFang & MYFang ) WPFang; Acer taipuense WPFang )

• Series Acer Distyla Acer Siebold & Zucc distylum.

• Acer nipponicum H.Hara

• Acer water. Pentaphylla: it contains only one type: Acer pentaphyllum Diels: This very rare, endangered species thrives in mixed forests in valleys at altitudes 2300-2900 meters only in the southwestern Sichuan.

• Acer acutum WPFang: It grows in forests at altitudes 800-1100 m in the southern Anhui, southern Henan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang.
• Acer amplum Rehder: It occurs in China and Vietnam.
• Field Maple, also called Maßholder (Acer campestre L.)
• Kolchischer maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled. ): It comes in southern Italy, in Southwest Asia, China, northern India, Kashmir, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan before.
• Acer chunii WPFang: This rare species thrives in open forests at altitudes 800-2500 meters in Fujian, northern Guangdong and southwestern Sichuan.
• Acer fulvescens Rehder: It grows in forests at altitudes 1800-3200 meters in Sichuan and southeastern Xizang.
• Acer longipes Franch. ex Rehder ( Syn: Acer pashanicum WPFang & TPSoong. ): It grows in mixed forests at altitudes between 300 and 1600 meters in China.
• Acer miaotaiense PCTsoong ( Syn: Acer yangjuechi WPFang & PLChiu ): It grows in mixed forests at altitudes 700-1600 meters in China.
• Miyabes maple (Acer miyabei Maxim. , Sometimes a subspecies of Acer miaotaiense )
• Acer okamotoanum Nakai
• Acer pictum Thunb. ex Murray: It comes with five subspecies in China, Japan, Korea, in the Mongoliei and eastern Russia.
• Spitz maple, also called Spitzblättriger maple (Acer platanoides L.)
• Acer shenkanense WPFang ex Ccfu ( Syn: Acer tricaudatum WPFang & Ccfu. ): It occurs in China.
• Acer tenellum Pax: It thrives with two variety in mixed forests in valleys at altitudes 1200-1900 meters in the western Hubei and eastern Sichuan to the south-east.
• Acer tibetense WPFang: It grows in forests in valleys at altitudes 1600-2700 meters only in the southeastern Xizang.
• Chinese Spitz maple ( Acer truncatum Bunge, Syn: Acer lobulatum Nakai ): It is found in China and Korea.

• Acer pilosum Maxim: It thrives with two variety in forests at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in Gansu, south-western Nei Mongol, Ningxia southeastern, Shaanxi and Shanxi.
• Acer pentapomicum JLStewart ex Brandis: It occurs in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• Acer pycnanthum K.Koch
• Red Maple ( Acer rubrum L.)
• Silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.)

• Tailed maple (Acer caudatum Wall. ): This is found in northern India, found in Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and China.
• Vermont maple ( Acer spicatum Lam. ): It is common in North America.
• Acer ukurunduense Trautvetter & CAMeyer: It occurs in China, Japan, Korea and eastern Russia.

• Series Acer water. Grisea: Cinnamon Maple ( Acer griseum ( Franch. ) Pax, Syn. Nikoense Acer griseum var Franch, Acer leiopodum ( Handel-Mazzetti ) WPFang & HFChow, Acer pedunculatum KSHao, Acer shensiense WPFang & LCHU, Acer. triflorum subsp leiopodum ( Handel-Mazzetti ) AEMurray, Acer triflorum var leiopodum Handel-Mazzetti, Acer zhongtiaoense WPFang & BLLi ): It grows in mixed forests in China.
• Nikko maple ( Acer nikoense Maxim, Syn. Maximowiczianum Acer Miq nom illeg Superfl, Acer maximowiczianum subsp megalocarpum ( Rehder ) AEMurray, Acer nikoense var megalocarpum Rehder, Negundo nikoense Miq. .. .. . ): He comes in China and Japan.
• Dreiblütiger maple (Acer triflorum Kom ): It is found in Korea and the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning.

• Manchurian Maple ( Acer mandshuricum Maxim, Syn. Kansuense Acer WPFang & CYChang, Acer mandshuricum subsp kansuense ( WPFang & CYChang ) WPFang. ): It is found in China, Korea and eastern Russia.
• Acer sutchuenense Franch: . These very rare, endangered species thrives in mixed forests at altitudes between 2500 meters 1000und in western Hubei, northwestern Hunan and Sichuan.

There are some hybrids (selection):

• Acer × boscii Spach
• Acer × coriaceum Bosc ex Tausch = Acer Acer monspessulanum × opalus, so parents rotundilobum same as in Acer × gravity.
• Freeman maple (Acer × freemanii AEMurray = Acer rubrum x Acer saccharinum )
• Acer × hillieri Lancaster = Acer Acer miyabei × cappadocicum
• Acer × hybridum Bosc
• Acer × rotundilobum heavy. = Acer Acer monspessulanum × opalus, ie the same parents as in Acer × coriaceum Bosc ex exchange
• Acer × schwerinii Pax
• Zoeschener maple (Acer × zoeschense Pax ): This is a hybrid of field maple (Acer campestre ) and Kolchischem maple (Acer cappadocicum ).

Confusion

Because of their similar leaf shape are often planted as a street tree London plane (Platanus × acerifolia ) is held for a maple - type; Have plane tree species, however, in contrast to the maple species always alternate between high and often leaves a very distinctive bark.