ACERL. - MAPLE
Scientific Description:
Trees or shrubs, mostly deciduous, sometimes with a milky juice. Leaves opposite, petiolate, exstipulate, palmately lobed or sometimes undivided or pinnate. Flowers actinomorphic, hypogynous to weakly perigynous, hermaphrodite or unisexual (the female often with non-functional stamens), in panicles, or racemes. Sepals (4−)5, free. Petals (4−)5, free (absent in Dodonaea Mill.). Stamens 4−10, usually 8, associated with a conspicuous disc (rarely absent). Ovary superior, with 2 ovules in each cell. Styles or stigmas 2(−3). Fruit schizocarpic, divided into 2(−3) laterally compressed, long-winged mericarps (samaras); seeds 1 in each nutlet.
Reference:
Yaltırık F (1967). Acer L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2: 509.
Public Description:
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs, known as “maple”, and is native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, Northern Africa, and North America. There are approximately 164 species in the world and 12 species (23 taxa) in Türkiye. The maple is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of Canada. The maple is also a symbol of Hiroshima. Some species of maples are extensively planted as ornamental trees by homeowners, businesses and municipalities due to their fall colour, relatively fast growth, ease of transplanting, and lack of hard seeds that would pose a problem for mowing lawns. Maples are a popular choice for the art of bonsai (is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers). It is also used as a syrub. “Maple syrup” is usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be derived from other maple species.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.
Anonymous 3 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.
Anonymous 4 (2015). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Sapindaceae/Acer/, Accessed date: 28.01.2016.
Mataracı T (2012). Acer L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 841−843.
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