Acer rufinerve Sieb. & Zucc. Grey-budded Snake-bark Maple
A native of Japan, frequently cultivated for its ornamental bark and autumn colours. Distinguished from other snake-barks by its grey, downy young shoots. Height to about 13m (42ft) with a girth of 1m (3ft) and relatively short-lived. Flowers are 0¡¤8cm (¨÷) produced in mid-April with the unfolding leaves in upright bunches 7.5cm (3in) long. Keys have red down on the nutlets at first and drop from June onwards. The leaves are about 10cm (4in) long, colouring orange to rich crimson in autumn. The young bark is green with white stripes and as it matures loses the white becoming dull rough grey brown. Z6.