Five lobed maple
Acer cappadocicum var. indicum

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are about 120-150 Acer species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It needs a moderately sunny moist but well drained soil. It grows on hillsides, mountain valleys, forests, from sea level to 1800 m altitude in northern China. Temperate. It suits hardiness zones 5-8. Burnie Rhodo gardens (var. sinensis)

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Middle East, Mongolia, Russia, Sikkim, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The sap contains sugar and can be used as a sweetener or concentrated into a syrup by boiling. The leaves are cooked and eaten.

The leaves are used only in emergencies.

Edible parts

Leaves, sap

How it is grown

Seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours then kept cold at 0-8°C for 2-4 months to assist them to grown. Seed can be sown fresh if green seeds are used. Seed should be grown in a nursery then transplanted. Cuttings or layering can be used.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Bankimu, Cappadocicum maple, Dumitha, Gadkinu, Kainjli, Kanjar, Kapasey, Kilpattar, Painted maple, Pata, Potli, Se mu qi, Semu Qi, Tarkhana, Tikta, Wujiao Feng

Synonyms

Acer mono Maxim.; Acer cappadocicum var. mono; Acer pictum (Thunb. 1784, non Thunb. 1783);