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Acer pinnatinervium Merr.

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Sponsor

Kindly sponsored by
a member of the International Dendrology Society

Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Acer pinnatinervium' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-pinnatinervium/). Accessed 2026-05-08.

Family

  • Sapindaceae

Genus

  • Acer
  • Sect. Hyptiocarpa

Synonyms

  • A. jingdongense T.Z. Hsu

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

simple
(of a leaf) Unlobed or undivided.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Acer pinnatinervium' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-pinnatinervium/). Accessed 2026-05-08.

Acer pinnatinervium

The gray-white lamina lower surface and purplish petioles on Acer pinnatinervium (Colesbourne Gardens, UK – 3 November 2011). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

This species is considered by van Gelderen et al. (1994) to be synonymous with A. laurinum, but is recognised as distinct by Xu et al. 2008. It forms a tree to 10 m with rough, grey or greyish brown bark. It has glabrous, pinnatinerved leaves with 8–12 pairs of lateral veins, with purplish petioles 2–3.5 cm long, and samaras 2–4 cm long. In comparison, A. laurinum has trinerved leaves with five to six pairs of lateral veins, a pubescent underside, and samaras 4–7 cm long. Xu et al. 2008. Distribution CHINA: southwest Xizang, Yunnan; INDIA; THAILAND. Habitat Mixed forest between 500 and 2400 m asl. USDA Hardiness Zone 9–10. Conservation status Not evaluated. Illustration NT88.

One of the simple-leaved evergreen maples from the warmer parts of Asia, Acer pinnatinervium is potentially a large tree. It is known in cultivation only as a few young plants growing at Tregrehan, from a collection made in Yunnan, but these seem to be doing very well. The relationship to A. laurinum is evident, but this material differs in having reddish stems and petioles and larger leaves. The leaves are handsome, glossy green above, shining white below. As with all this group, it will need a mild, sheltered situation, or to be grown as a potted plant under cover.

Acer pinnatinervium

The large leaves of Acer pinnatinervium with a prominent drip-tip are pinnately veined, in contrast to those of A. laurinum, which are 3-veined at the base. Further the petiole is remarkably short (Colesbourne Gardens, UK – 3 November 2011). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Acer pinnatinervium

Foliage on Acer pinnatinervium from a young plant once growing at Colesbourne Gardens, UK (3 November 2011). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

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