Acer davidii

Planted: 1996

This tree is on the bank, to the south of the Moat Path and near the moat steps.

Distribution:	Native to China.
Supplier:	Unknown
Growth Habit:	A small deciduous tree growing to 10–15 m tall with a trunk up to 40 cm in diameter, though usually smaller and often with multiple trunks, and a spreading crown of long, arching branches.
Bark:	The bark is smooth, olive-green with regular narrow pale vertical stripes on young trees, eventually becoming dull grey-brown at the base of old trees and leading to the term ‘snake bark’.
Leaf:	The leaves are 6 to 18 cm long and 4 to 9 cm wide, with a petiole 3 to 6 cm long. They are dark green above, paler below, ovate, unlobed or weakly three-lobed, with a serrated margin. They turn to bright yellow, orange or red in the Autumn.
Flowers:	Small, yellow, with five sepals and petals about 4 mm long. They are produced on arching to pendulous 7 to 12 cm racemes in late Spring, with male and female flowers on different racemes.
Fruit:	The fruit is the typical two winged ‘propeller’ called a samara. The nutlets are 7 to 10 mm long and 4 to 6 mm wide, with a wing 2 to 3 cm long and 5 mm wide.
Toxicity:	Unknown
Uses:	A deciduous ornamental tree.
Plant Hunter:	First discovered and described by French botanist and missionary Pere Armand David. The tree was later rediscovered by Charles Maries during his exploration of Jiangsu, while collecting for Veitch’s nurseries.
Introduction Date:	1879