Shantung Maple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Shantung Maple
• purple-blow maple
• Shandong Maple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acer cappadocicum subsp. truncatum
• Acer laetum var. truncatum
• Acer lobelii subsp. truncatum
• Acer truncatum var. nudum
• Acer lobulatum var. barbinerve
• Acer lobulatum
• Acer lobelii var. platanoides
• Acer truncatum var. beipiao
• Acer truncatum f. cordatum
• Acer truncatum var. platanoides
• Acer truncatum var. pilosum
• Acer pictum var. truncatum
• Acer truncatum f. albovariegatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Sapindales, specifically within the family Sapindaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established under the genus Acer.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several key regions in East Asia. Within the Russian Far East, its presence is documented in both the Amur and Sakhalin territories. Its distribution extends significantly into China, where it is found throughout Inner Mongolia and the Manchuria region. Additionally, the species can be located within China North-Central areas. Collectively, these locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of Acer truncatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acer truncatum is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution that dictates its habitat preferences and environmental interactions. This species typically thrives within a defined vertical gradient, occupying mid-altitude zones that are critical to its survival and reproductive success. Specifically, its elevational range spans from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 700 m AMSL. This positioning suggests that the plant is adapted to the specific temperature regimes, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressures found within these montane or sub-montane belts, which likely influence its competitive dynamics within its native ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Acer truncatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous plant, it follows a seasonal physiological cycle where it sheds its foliage annually in response to changing environmental conditions, typically entering a period of dormancy during the colder months to conserve energy and survive harsh climates. This rhythmic cycle of leaf senescence and subsequent seasonal regrowth is a fundamental aspect of its developmental strategy, ensuring its continued survival and persistence over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Acer truncatum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows in a terrestrial manner rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 9 m, with its height ranging from a minimum of 8 m to a maximum of 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

9 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acer truncatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic process for many woody species that optimizes carbon fixation under temperate conditions. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 7.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 10 cm. The leaf width follows a similar range of variability, starting at a minimum of 8 cm and expanding to a maximum of 12 cm. Additionally, the structural integrity and wood characteristics of the plant are reflected in its stem specific density (SSD), which maintains a mean value of 738 mg/cm³.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

738 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Acer truncatum is characterized by the development of specific fruit structures and seeds that follow distinct morphological patterns. The fruits produced by this species exhibit measurable variations in size, with an average fruit length of 1.55 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1.3 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm. In terms of lateral dimensions, the fruit width averages 1.1 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds play a crucial role in propagation, displaying a mean seed mass of 0.087 g. The individual seed mass is relatively consistent, fluctuating within a narrow range between a minimum of 0.082 g and a maximum of 0.092 g.

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.55 cm

Fruit length min:

1.3 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.092 g

Seed mass mean:

0.087 g

Seed mass min:

0.082 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acer truncatum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Fruit

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Root

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chemicals

Acer truncatum has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Astragalin, CATECHIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Nervonic acid, Quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside.

Astragalin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CATECHIN

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Nervonic acid

1. BioMed research international

Quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

beta-Amyrin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

beta-Amyrin acetate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

polyphenols

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Acer truncatum has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antitumor, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Conditions

Acer truncatum has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include back pain, bruises, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, fatty acid synthase.

Back pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bruises

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cerebrovascular diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fatty acid synthase

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Acer truncatum has 3 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Acer truncatum oil, leaves, tea.

Acer truncatum oil

1. BMC genomics

Leaves

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Tea

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry