Acer rufinerve aka Grey Bud Snakebark Maple

Acer rufinerve, also known as the grey-budded snake-bark-maple, redvein maple, or Honshū maple, is a species of tree native to mountain forests in Japan, specifically Honshū, Kyūshū, and Shikoku. It belongs to the snakebark maple group and is related to Acer capillipes, also known as the Kyushu maple. The tree typically reaches a height of 6-10m and has lemon-yellow bark with white striations, as well as salmon-pink shoots. Its small light green leaves are 3-lobed and turn bright yellow in the autumn. In spring, it produces greenish-yellow flowers in upright racemes, followed by red winged fruits. The Latin and English names, rufinerve and "redvein," respectively, refer to the reddish down on the veins. The Japanese name, urihadakaede or "melon-skin maple," describes the bark pattern. The tree has a smooth olive-green bark with narrow vertical pale green to greyish stripes and small greyish lenticels when young, which becomes rough and grey on older trees. Its three-lobed leaves are double serrated and dark green above, paler below with rusty hair on the veins when young, and become glabrous when mature. In autumn, the leaves turn bright orange or red. The tree produces yellow to greenish-yellow flowers in racemes, with male and female flowers on separate trees. Its fruit consists of paired winged samaras with rounded nutlets. Acer rufinerve is a large shrub that can grow into a multi-stemmed tree, reaching a height of 8-15m with a trunk diameter of up to 40cm. It has an open, vase-like shaped crown and a shallow root system that branches out profusely. The tree's olive-green twigs with white-grey longitudinal stripes are visible when bare. Despite preferring a warm position, it may experience scorching in hot summers. Overall, Acer rufinerve is a visually striking tree with unique bark and vibrant autumn foliage, making it a popular choice for decoration.