Acer crataegifolium aka Hawthorn Maple

Acer crataegifolium, also known as hawthorn-leaf maple or uri maple, is a species of maple native to central and southern Japan. It is a deciduous small tree or shrub that can reach a height of 5-10m and has a trunk diameter of up to 30cm. The bark is green to greenish-brown with narrow vertical white or pale grey stripes, while the young shoots are slender and green to purplish-red. The leaves, which can be either unlobed or three-lobed, are dark green to bluish green, ovate-triangular in shape, and measure 5-8cm in length (rarely up to 15cm). They have a reddish petiole that is 2-3cm long. In spring and summer, the leaves display variegation with white and pink mottling. During autumn, they turn pink and purple. The small pale yellow flowers are produced on arched to drooping racemes that are 3-5cm long. The paired samara fruit is 1-2cm long and starts off pink or red, maturing to brown. There are two varieties of Acer crataegifolium, one with leaves up to 7cm long (var. crataegifolium) and another with leaves up to 15cm long (var. macrophyllum). This maple species is found in deciduous forests in the mountains of Honshu (from Fukushima southward), Kyushu, and Shikoku in Japan. It prefers bright areas at the forest edge, near streams, and in clearings. The hawthorn maple has a slender crown and can grow as a large shrub or tree. Its branches and bark are streaked with green and white. Young shoots are reddish or green and slightly covered with bloom and pubescence during blooming. The leaves are oblong-ovate, pointed, and have uneven and finely serrated edges. They are bluish-green and glabrous on the upper surface, while the lower surface is dull green and slightly covered with bloom, becoming pubescent when blooming. The petiole is red and 2-3cm long. In autumn, the leaves turn bright red. This maple is dioecious, with yellowish-white flowers that are arranged in erect clusters measuring 3-5cm long. The male flowers have a rudimentary gynoecium, while the female flowers show remnants of stamens. It blooms in May. The fruit is a red samara with horizontally positioned wings. The nutlet with a wing measures 2cm long. The Japanese name "urikaede" refers to the bark pattern resembling the skin of a melon. Overall, Acer crataegifolium is a visually striking maple species with variegated leaves, attractive bark, and delicate flowers.