Classification and Naming of Acer Palmatum – Japanese Maples
At very first the Latin names applied in horticulture can appear to be a little bit off placing and hard to recall. Will not worry! Just after a bit of follow the names will appear much more simply to you! Honestly!
‘Acer’ (pronounced Ay-Sir) is the Genus of vegetation known generally as maples. Of all the maple species, the Japanese maple (recognised by its botanical title as Acer palmatum) is the most variable. It is this variability that we enjoy so a great deal in these much admired trees.
There are 3 basic sub-species of Acer palmatum. These are: amoenum, matsumurae and palmatum. The word ‘palmatum’ (pronounced PAL-MATE-UM) will come from the root word PALMATE or palm-like, which means the leaf seems to be like the palm of your hand with fingers.
Unnamed pink leaved maples sometimes have the generic name Acer palmatum atropurpureum. ‘Atropurpureum’ refers to the purple leaf sort. Break up leaf or minimize leaf Japanese maples are referred to as: Acer palmatum dissectum or Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum for the pink cutleaf form. Dissectum (pronounced DIE-SECK-TUM) simply describes the leaves as currently being dissected or break up (slash) into a high-quality filigree form.
Naming of specific Japanese maple tree cultivars (cultivar = a distinctive plant preserved by cultivation) follows the regulations of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Vegetation. Cultivar names should really always be published in roman form with single ‘quote’ marks right after the species identify. For example: Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ or Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum ‘Crimson queen’.
When you are seeking to acquire an Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) tree you will need to have to solution the next concerns:
- What color leaf do you want? Red, inexperienced or variegated?
- What sort of leaf condition would you like? Typical 5-, 7- or 9-pointed leaf or the cutleaf form?
- How substantial do you want to tree to develop? Fewer than 6 feet tall? 6 to 12 toes tall? Around 12 ft tall?
- Is the tree heading to be planted in full solar, partial solar or largely in the shade?
From the respond to to these concerns we can progressively do a “Sherlock Holmes” investigation and eradicate specific named cultivars that do not match the conditions picked.
For the rest of us, just simple old Japanese maple tree will do!
Illustrations of well-liked environmentally friendly leaf Japanese maples cultvars are: Oskazuki, Sango kaku, Shishigashira.
Examples of well known purple leaf Japanese maples cultvars are: Bloodgood, Bonfire, Crimson emperor, Shaina.
Examples of well-known eco-friendly cutleaf Japanese maples cultvars are: Viridis and Waterfall.
Examples of common pink cutleaf Japanese maples cultivars are: Crimson queen, Garnet, Inaba shidare, Orangeola and Red dragon.