Re: Acer cappadocicum ssp. lobelli Commonly treated as a distinct species Acer lobelii, and endemic to southern Italy (not Asia as claimed by their label!). I'm very doubtful of this specimen's identification; the leaves are stated to be "five-lobed, smaller leaves often three-lobed ... never seven-lobed" (Bean, Trees & Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles)
Re: Acer cappadocicum ssp. lobelli Thank-you for pointing out the error on the label; they are aware that several of their labels may not be correct, and I will make a note to include this one. (I believe that it is actually volunteers from the Arboretum Foundation who provide these lovely legible green labels, which frankly are quite new, and as a member, I really hope to make time to assist in the project of correcting errors.) This older tree truly does put up suckers, whose leaves are the distinctly five-lobed ones in the photograph above. Attached below is photograph of a young tree I just bought for my mom (in USDA Z6) with just those same shaped leaves, but I am having second thoughts about the purchase because of those suckers! Van Gelderen in both Maples of the World (1994) and Maples for Gardens (1999) lists this species as having five lobes, but the photograph on page 46 of the later citation matches exactly the photograph of the older leaves above. The photograph on page 46 taken of the tree in the Hillier Arboretum shows one of a tighter vase shape, however. In Proceedings of the International Maple Symposium 2002 (Westonbirt Arboretum) it is noted that Acer cappadocicum has four subspecies. I understand these to be (van Gelderen 1994): A. cappadocicum ssp. cappadocicum A. cappadocicum ssp. divergens A. cappadocicum ssp. lobelii A. cappadocicum ssp. sinicum.
Re: Acer cappadocicum ssp. lobelli At one time graduate students were working on labeling. Maybe the suckers with extra lobes are rootstock sprouts. Jacobson (1996) gives the 1993 dimensions of one of the Seattle specimens as 57' x 4'7".
Re: Acer cappadocicum ssp. lobelli The root suckers could well be Acer cappadocicum (ssp. cappadocicum) rootstock on which it was grafted - this applies to several specimens of A. lobelii in Britain. If your new plant is on its own roots, you shouldn't get any suckers.
