Flat-base maple
Acer truncatum

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 grows in good moist soil. It grows in forests between 400-1,000 m altitude in northern China. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, Korea, Manchuria

How it is used for food

The seed are roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, branches - drink

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. Layering or cuttings can be used.

Its other names

Local names

Monkey maple, Pingji Qi, Shantung maple, Yuan bao qi

Synonyms

Acer cappadocicum subsp. truncatum (Bunge) E. Murray; Acer laetum var. truncatum (Bunge) Regel; Acer lobelii subsp. truncatum (Bunge) Wesmael; Acer lobulatum Nakai; Acer lobulatum var. rubripes Nakai