Acer sterculiaceum

Acer sterculiaceum, commonly known as Franchet’s maple[2] or Himalayan maple, is a species of maple tree in the soapberry family. It is indigenous to Bhutan, northern India, and southwestern and central China (Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan).[3]

Acer sterculiaceum
Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Sapindaceae
Genus:	Acer
Section:	Acer sect. Lithocarpa
Species:	A. sterculiaceum
Binomial name
Acer sterculiaceum Wall. 1830 not K. Koch 1869
Synonyms[1]
List Acer villosum Wall. 1830 not J. Presl & C. Presl 1822 Acer franchetii Pax Acer huianum W.P.Fang & C.C.Hsieh Acer kungshanense W.P.Fang & C.Y.Chang Acer kungshanense var. acuminatilobum (W.P.Fang & Chow) W.P.Fang Acer lungshengense W.P.Fang & L.C.Hu Acer schoenermarkiae Pax Acer schoenermarkiae var. oxycolpum Hand.-Mazz. Acer tsinglingense W.P.Fang & C.C.Hsieh Acer platanifolium Griff. 1848 not Stokes 1812 Acer thomsonii Miq.

Acer sterculiaceum grows at altitudes of 1,800–3,100 metres (5,900–10,200 ft). It is a tree up to 20 meters tall with dark gray or grayish-brown bark. Leaves are palmately lobed, usually with 3 or 5 lobes but occasionally 7. Leaves are up to 20 cm long, thick and a bit leathery, dark green and hairless on the top, lighter green and woolly on the underside.[3][2]

Subspecies[1]

• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. franchetii (Pax) A.E.Murray - central and southwestern China
• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum - Yunnan, Tibet, Bhutan, India
• Acer sterculiaceum subsp. thomsonii (Miq.) A.E.Murray - northern India