Acer metcalfii

Acer metcalfii is in the soapberry or Sapindaceae family and is native only to China (provinces of northern Guangdong, northeast Guangxi, southeast Guizhou, southern Hunan). It can reach up to 10 m in height.

It is in the snakebark group of maples identified by: Snakeskin-like bark; buds on stocks, 1 pair of scales; flowers (and double samaras) on pendulous racemes.

• Leaves (which quite resemble Père David’s maple (Acer davidii)) are deciduous, simple, opposite, 10–14 cm long and 7–11 cm across, thick, 3-lobed, lobes pointed, triangular ovate, margins coarsely serrate, petioles 2–3 cm long; both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins in 9–11 pairs.
• Species is dioecious; inflorescences (flowers) are in racemes 5–7 cm long, with up to 15 flowers.
• Fruit is a double samara, with each being 2–2.5 cm long, brownish yellow, wings sp[reading obtusely.