Acer caudatifolium

Kawakami maple is in the soapberry or Sapindaceae family and is native only to Taiwan in China. It can reach up to 20 m in height, with multiple stems.

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.

• Branches are slender, glabrous, winter buds ellipsoid, scales glabrous.
• Leaves (which quite resemble shape of Tartar maple (Acer tataricum) are deciduous, simple, opposite, 6–10 cm long and 3-4.5 cm across, papery, 5-veined at the base, base rounded, margin densely jagged [serrulate] with sharp teeth, tip pointed; upper surface is dark green, lower surface pale green; petiole is 3–4 cm long. Leaves turn yellow in the fall.
• Species is dioecious; inflorescences (flowers) are in on racemes 5-7 cm long, with 7-15 flowers on short stocks; flowers are 1 cm in diameter, 5-morous.
• Fruit are on racemes with 7-17 pairs of winged double samaras, spreading obtusely or sometimes at an angle of near 180°, wings reddish, turning straw-coloured when ripe, with the whole fruit being 3–4 cm wide.