Acer griseum is also known as the paperbark maple. This is because the bark on this beautifully ornamental tree peels away in decorative curly flakes; in a similar way to the birches.Sadly, this tree is on the IUCN Red List with a status of endangered. While the paperbark maple is found naturally over a wide area of central China, the population is small and fragmented. It is aid to be difficult to propagate whether by vegetative methods, such as cuttings, or by seed.
Unsurprisingly, this tree has the RHS Award for Garden merit and its green leaves turn red and orange in the autumn. Growing to around 12 metres high and 8 metres in spread over 50 years, a large garden would be required to get the best of out of the tree, but if I could meet the criteria, I'd definitely grow it.
The only problem with this trunk is that nothing of note seems to be growing on it or using it as a habitat. But, that being said, you can't have everything. The beauty of the trunk alone makes this my trunk of the month.
Resources
Kew. (n.d). Acer griseum (paperbark maple). Available: http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/acer-griseum-paperbark-maple. Last accessed 28/06/2015.
I enjoy your "trunk" posts, Tim! The texture, color, and form of this Acer all combine to make it special. It would be a shame for the species to disappear.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it would be such a shame. Hopefully places like Westonbirt Arboretum will keep species like this alive, even if it's just because of the way it looks.
DeleteThat's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hollis. We're lucky to live fairly close to a good arboretum.
Deletevery nice
ReplyDeleteThanks
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