Acer opalus

Acer opalus (Italian maple) is a species of maple native to the hills and mountains of southern and western Europe, from Italy to Spain and north to southern Germany, and also in northwest Africa in Morocco and Algeria.[3][4][5]

Italian maple
Italian maple leaves in autumn
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Sapindaceae
Genus:
Acer
Species:
A. opalus
Binomial name
Acer opalus
Synonyms[2]

Description

Acer opalus is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 20 metres (66 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The leaves are glossy green, 7–13 centimetres (2.8–5.1 in) long and 5–16 centimetres (2.0–6.3 in) across, palmately lobed with blunt teeth. They turn yellow in autumn.

The bark is grey and pinkish. It peels in square plates. It has small yellow flowers that open before the leaves appear. The fruit is a pair of winged samaras, each seed up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter with a 1.5–2.5 centimetres (0.59–0.98 in) wing.[4]

Subspecies

Acer opalus trees with shallowly lobed leaves are sometimes separated as a distinct subspecies Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum. The characteristics are not always constant, so no subspecies are recognized by the Flora Europaea.[3][4]

References
  1. The International Plant Names Index
  2. The Plant List, Acer opalus Mill.
  3. Flora Europaea: Acer opalus
  4. Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins. ISBN 0-00-220013-9. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Altervista Flora Italiana, Acer opalus Mill.
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