View source for Acer monspessulanum

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Aceraceae
|genus=Acer
|species=monspessulanum
|common_name=Montpelier maple
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=tree
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max ht box=40
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max wd box=35
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=deciduous, flowers, bonsai, fall color
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=6
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=8
|image=Acer monspessulanum fg02.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''Montpellier Maple''' (''Acer monspessulanum'') is a species of [[maple]] native to the [[Mediterranean region]] from [[Morocco]] and [[Portugal]] in the west, to [[Turkey]] and [[Lebanon]] in the east, and north to the [[Jura Mountains]] in [[France]] and the [[Eifel]] in [[Germany]].<ref>[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Acer&SPECIES_XREF=monspessulanum&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Acer monspessulanum'']</ref><ref name="rushforth">Rushforth, K. D. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. ISBN 0-00-220013-9.</ref><ref name="gelderen">van Gelderen, C.J. & van Gelderen, D.M. (1999). ''Maples for Gardens: A Color Encyclopedia''.</ref>

[[Image:Acer monspessulanum subsp turcomanicum flower.jpg|left|thumb|Flowers and young leaves in spring]]
It is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]] or densely-branched [[shrub]] that grows to a height of 10-15 m (rarely to 20 m)<ref>{{fr icon}}[http://erick.dronnet.free.fr/belles_fleurs_de_france/acer_monspessulanum.htm Fleurs de France: ''Acer monspessulanum'']</ref>. The trunk is up to 75 cm diameter, with smooth, dark grey [[bark]] on young trees, becoming finely fissured on old trees. Among similar maples is most easily distinguished by its small three-lobed [[leaf|leaves]], 3-6 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, glossy dark green, sometimes a bit leathery, and with a smooth margin, with a 2-5 cm petiole. The leaves fall very late in autumn, typically in November. The [[flower]]s are produced in spring, in pendulous, yellow to white [[corymb]]s 2-3 cm long. The [[samara (fruit)|samaras]] are 2-3 cm long with rounded nutlets.<ref name="rushforth"/><ref name="gelderen"/>

It is variable, and a number of [[subspecies]] and [[variety (biology)|varieties]] have been described, but few are widely accepted as distinct. The most widely accepted as distinct is ''Acer monspessulanum'' subsp. ''microphyllum'' (Boiss.) Bornmueller, from Turkey and Lebanon, with smaller leaves not over 3 cm broad.<ref name="rushforth"/>

The species can be mistaken for ''[[Acer campestre]]'' (Field Maple), another maple native to [[Europe]], from which it is best distinguished by the clear sap in the leaves (milk-white in Field Maple), and the much narrower angle between the samara wings.<ref name="rushforth"/><ref name="gelderen"/>

Among maples not endemic to [[Japan]], ''A. monspessulanum'' (and the similar ''A. campestre'') are popular among [[bonsai]] enthusiasts.<ref>Bonsai Club International: [http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/acermons.html ''Acer monspessulanum'']</ref> In both cases, the smallish leaves and shrubby [[Habit (botany)|habit]] of the maple respond well to techniques to encourage leaf reduction and ramification.<ref>Bonsai Club International: [http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/acercamp.html ''Acer campestre'']</ref> These bonsai have an appearance distinct from those created from maples such as ''[[Acer palmatum]]'' whose leaves are more more frilly and [[translucence|translucent]].

Otherwise, ''Acer monspessulanum'' is rarely seen in cultivation outside of [[arboretum|arboreta]].

{{Inc|
Acer monspessulanum, Linn. (syn. A. trilobatum, Lam.). Shrub or small tree, 25 ft.: lvs. 3-lobed, coriaceous, 1-3 in. across, shining above, glaucous and glabrous beneath; lobes entire or with few obtuse teeth: corymbs erect: fr. with slightly spreading wings. S. Eu., N. Afr., W. Asia.—Shrub or small tree of slow growth, with a dense, rounded head and, in temperate regions, nearly evergreen foliage, thriving well in dry situations. Var. ibericum, Koch. (A. ibbricum, Bieb.). Lvs. larger, the inner lobes usually slightly 3-lobed, obtuse.
{{SCH}}
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==


==Gallery==
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==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
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