Nikko Maple                A-ser max-im-o-wix-ee-A-num

• Broadleaf deciduous tree, to 50 ft (15 m) high in its habitat, compact, branches until the second year with rust-yellow pubescence.  Bark on young trees is gray-brown and striated, on older trees gray and rough but not flaky.  Leaves opposite, compound, 3 leaflets, ovate to elliptic-oblong, 5-12 cm long, middle leaflet stalked, axillary leaflets sessile, margin entire or occasionally toothed, upper side dull green, underside gray-green with prominent veins and scattered pubescence; fall coloer is scarlet-red.  Flowers usually 3 per group, yellow, about 1 cm wide.  Trees may have all male or all female flowers, if both on the same tree they are on separate branches.  Fruit pubescent,wings 4-5 cm long, nearly parallel or forming and angle of up to 60 degrees.
• Sun to part shade.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5    Native to Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku islands) and China (Hubei and Anhui).
• Caution: There is also another maple species with a similar name, e.g., Acer maximowiczii, Maximowicz's snakebark maple.  This small tree has simple leaves and striped bark.
• maximowiczianum: after Russian botanist Carl Maximowicz (1827-1891).