Acer micranthum, the small-leaved maple,

It is a small, sometimes shrubby tree growing tall, with slender, arching branches. The bark is smooth and striped at first, becoming rough and dull grey on mature trees. The shoots and winter buds are dark purple-red. The leaves are 4–10 cm long and 2–8 cm broad, palmately lobed, with five deeply toothed lobes with long acuminate tips and double-serrated margins, and with distinctive tufts of orange-red hairs in the main vein axils at the base of the leaf; the petiole is 2–5 cm long. The leaves emerge red in spring and turn shades of yellow, orange and red

It is most closely related to Acer tschonoskii, which replaces it further north and at higher altitudes in Japan; they have very similar leaf form. Though hardy down to , it requires a sheltered position in neutral or acid soil with sun or partial shade.

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Image:Acer_micranthum.jpg|Tree in cultivation, Denmark

Acer micranthum foliage.JPG|Leaves, Rogów Arboretum, Poland

Image:Acer micranthum SZ141.png|Illustration by Siebold & Zuccarini

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References