Acer distylum Sieb. & Zucc.

A deciduous tree, probably 50 ft high eventually. Leaves ovate, deeply heart-shaped at the base, 4 to 61⁄2 in. long, about three-fourths as wide, slender-pointed, quite glabrous except when young, the margin set with small teeth; leaf-stalk quite short, 1 to 11⁄2 in. long. Flowers borne in a branching raceme, yellowish. Fruits glabrous, in erect racemes or corymbs; keys 11⁄4 in. long; wings 1⁄3 in. wide, ultimately spreading at an angle of about 100°.

Native of Japan; introduced by Veitch’s nurseries in 1879. One of the original trees at Coombe Wood (Kingston, Surrey) reached 30 ft in height and used to produce fruit annually. It has never been common in gardens but the following examples are known: Wakehurst Place, Sussex, 35 × 21⁄4 ft (1964); Grayswood Hill, Surrey, 30 × 2 ft (1955); Westonbirt, Glos., three pl. 1936, the largest 28 × 11⁄4 ft (1966).

The leaves in shape are similar to those of a lime, but the resemblance is not very marked in the forms with rather oblong leaves sometimes seen in cultivation.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

specimens: Grayswood Hill, Haslemere, Surrey, 46 × 23⁄4 ft (1982); Westonbirt, Glos., pl. 1936, 42 × 21⁄2 ft (1982).