Acer nipponicum

Nippon maple is in the soapberry or Sapindaceae family and is native to Japan (in mountainous regions on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 metres). It is a medium-sized tree growing to 20 m tall.

• The branches and trunk have a smooth grey bark, while young twigs are a smooth, slightly lustrous dark green; terminal bud is often missing.
• Leaves are opposite, simple, up to 15 cm long and equally wide, with 3 or 5 shallow palmate lobes, lobes shallow, oval and terminated in a short point, mid-lobe the largest, edges margin doubly serrate, upper surface with an embossed and uneven texture, light green, underside pubescent; petiole is green, to 15 cm long; leaves turn golden yellow to brown in the fall.
• Flowers are in large, dense clusters (racemes), erect or drooping, appearing with the leaves.
• Fruit wings are 3–5 cm long, held at obtuse angles, nutlets globose.
• Fruit is paired samaras, with wings 3–5 cm long, spreading less than 90 degrees; they grow packed in dense clusters; samara mature in late summer.