Acer caudatum Wallich

A deciduous tree to 10 m. Bark grey to brown, finely ridged, soon becoming flaky. Branchlets stout, dark reddish to green, pubescent at first, lenticillate, turning greyish brown. Buds ovoid, with two to three pairs of valvate scales, outer scales ovate. Leaves broadly ovate in outline, base deeply cordate to cordate, five (-seven) lobed, 8–12 × 8–12 cm, lobes triangular ovate, apically acuminate to caudate, margins doubly and sharply serrate with acuminate teeth, upper surface matt, light to mid green, primary veins raised, secondary veins lightly impressed, pubescent along veins at least at first, lower surface pale to whitish green, pubescent throughout with short, yellowish hairs; petiole 5–9 (–20) cm long, reddish or green, glabrous or pubescent, often slightly grooved, broadest at base; autumn colours usually yellow. Inflorescence terminal, erect, racemose-paniculate, pubescent, many flowered. Flowers 5-merous, peduncles 8–10 cm, pedicels 0.5–0.8 cm, slender, slightly pubescent, sepals ~0.3 cm, ovate to lanceolate, petals yellowish white, ~ 0.7 cm, narrowly oblong, stamens eight, inserted in the middle or on the outside of the nectar disc. Samaras 2.5 to 2.8 cm long, wings spreading acutely or erectly. Nutlets ovoid to subglobose. Flowering in May, after the leaves have emerged, fruiting September to October. (van Gelderen et al. 1994; Rushforth 1999; Xu et al. 2008).

Distribution  Bhutan Myanmar China Southeastern Gansu, western Henan, western Hubei, Ningxia, southern Shaanxi, western Sichuan, southeastern Xizang, northwestern Yunnan India North Nepal

Habitat Alpine forests, between 1700 and 4000 m asl.

USDA Hardiness Zone 4

RHS Hardiness Rating H5

Conservation status Least concern (LC)