Acer micranthum

Acer micranthum, the small-leaved maple,<ref name = RHSPF/> is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae in the snakebark maple group, native to Japan, on Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku. Its Japanese name is the Komine maple.<ref name=kobe>Kobe city: Acer micranthum Template:Webarchive (in Japanese; google translation)</ref><ref name=kanagawa>Kanagawa Prefecture trees and shrubs: Acer micranthum Template:Webarchive (in Japanese; google translation). Archived 2009-10-24.</ref><ref name=osu>Okayama science university: Acer micranthum Template:Webarchive (in Japanese; google translation)</ref><ref name=kanon>Kanon tree book: Acer micranthumTemplate:Dead link (in Japanese; google translation)</ref><ref name=mw>Maple World: Maples of Japan Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name=mw1>Maple World: Komine-kaede Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name=grin>Template:GRIN</ref>

It is a small, sometimes shrubby tree growing Template:Convert 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<ref name = RHSPF/> in autumn. The flowers are produced in early summer in racemes 4–10 cm long, each flower 4 mm diameter, with five yellow to greenish-yellow sepals and petals; it is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruit is a paired samara with two rounded nutlets, each with a wing 1.5–2 cm long; the two wings spreading almost horizontally from each other.<ref name=kobe/><ref name=kanagawa/><ref name=osu/><ref name=kanon/><ref name=mw1/><ref name=ishikawa>Ishikawa prefecture forestry research institute: Kominekaede Template:Webarchive (in Japanese; google translation)</ref><ref name=kota>Kota's Nature Photo Gallery: Acer micranthum Template:Webarchive (in Japanese; google translation)</ref>

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.<ref name=mw1/>

Acer micranthum is cultivated as an ornamental tree in European and North American gardens, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref name = RHSPF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though hardy down to Template:Convert, it requires a sheltered position in neutral or acid soil with sun or partial shade.

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  Tree in cultivation, Denmark
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  Leaves, Rogów Arboretum, Poland
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  Illustration by Siebold & Zuccarini