Acer sinense is a species of flowering plant in the maple genus Acer, native to southeast and south-central China. A small (typically 3 to 5m tall) tree rarely reaching 15m, it prefers to grow in forested valleys 500 to 2500m above sea level.

It is a highly morphologically variable species, leading to some taxonomic confusion. Some authorities consider it to be a subspecies of Campbell's maple, Acer campbellii subsp. sinense, but this is incorrect; it is in its own species complex. Good traits to distinguish it from members of the Acer wilsonii species complex are that its inflorescence is a compound corymbose panicle with 60 to 70 flowers, with pedicels that are 5 to 6 mm long, its ovaries are pilose, appearing white, and its nutlet is nearly glabrous, and convex, without any veins.

Acer sinense

References

sinense

Trees of China

Endemic flora of China

Plants described in 1889

Acer sinense