How about a stumper? The "sea of leaves" photo, as is, was taken yesterday November 29, 2005 in the early afternoon in overcast conditions. See if any of you can figure out the name of this one.
A quick note: Think leaf colors, leaf sizes and leaf shapes as well as the overall shape (growth habit) of the tree, as best as you can make of what you are seeing. Also, take into account the time frame the Maple was photographed as there is some Fall coloring showing in the plant. Much of the Fall colors have not yet developed however and they may not for us now this late in the year. I will respond in due time again and will reply as prompt as I can if someone gets the name of this Maple right. Jim
Or several hundred thousand, if one takes into account the possibility that it might be an un-named seedling . . . (never been able to understand this fixation on cultivars :-)
I am having a real hard time staying connected long enough to even send an e-mail. My ISP started its meltdown last evening and has not recovered yet. Here is a quick clue. This Maple and three other forms of the general name have been in the US since 1972. In days past we considered this Maple to be a variety of a known form, such as an example, Kasagiyama var. beni. There is a web site that shows this same Maple in its Spring color glory. Jim
The photo on the left is a relative close up of the leaves of the "stumper" Maple. The not so great quality photo on the right was taken on December 2, 2005 is a close up view of Murasaki kiyohime. The Fall color has not become widespread in the Murasaki kiyohime as yet. The stumper Maple has been planted in the ground for 14 years. The Murasaki kiyohime has resided in a container for 15 years.
One of your more favorite landscape plants hello mr. shep, although i suspect you have a tree i've never heard of, that hasn't prevented me from trying to figure out what it is. i'm wondering if your maple has red petioles about now. or better yet, will it give away too much to post a photo of it in it's spring colors. ^_^ thank you ! n. musume
One of mr. shep's more favorite landscape plants hi daniel, hanami nishiki was also one of the trees i had narrowed it down to ( if a dozen varieties can be said to be "narrowing" of choices . . . ) because the growth habit and size of the leaves are similar to the photos of hanami nishiki that i've seen on the esveld and ganshuku sites, but the shape of the leaves on mr. shep's tree seem more narrow and elongated. also, that was one of my next questions. whether or not this tree has a slight variegation to it. it's difficult when basing one's decisions on photos of the same plant that look different on the various sites ! ^_^ n. musume
No, this Maple is not a Hanami nishiki. but the shape of the leaves on mr. shep's tree seem more narrow and elongated. For this form it is characteristic to have a slightly narrower central lobe than the side lobes. This Maple has the smallest leaves in size than the other three forms. Several of the leaves are only pinkie nail in size by Summer. The new late Summer growth leaves can be even smaller still. There is no variegation to this Maple. Here is a photo of the Maple taken around the third week of March 2006.
