Contents
Generality
The minor maple, also called trilobular maple or cestuccio, belongs to the Aceraceae family, to the genus Acer and to the species monspessulanum. It is a tree of modest size, the smallest of the maples, with a maximum height of 10-12 m, with an almost rounded and particularly wide crown. The trunk is twisted, rich in ramifications in the middle-lower part and can reach a diameter of more than 70 cm; the bark is smooth and dark gray in the juvenile phase, while in adult specimens it has fairly fine cracks. The leaves are deciduous, opposite, 4-6 cm long and wide, with a petiole up to 5 cm long, leathery, webbed, three-lobed, with a smooth, bright green upper page and a dark green lower page. more hairy; Compared to other maples, the leaves linger longer on the plant, in fact do not drop until November, and are golden yellow. The flowers are hermaphroditic, small in size, yellow in color tending to green and gathered in erect corymbal inflorescences located in the axils of the leaf. Flowering takes place simultaneously with the emission of leaves in April and May, pollination is entomophilous. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. indeed, they only fall in November and are golden yellow. The flowers are hermaphroditic, small in size, yellow in color tending to green and gathered in erect corymbal inflorescences located in the axils of the leaf. Flowering takes place simultaneously with the emission of leaves in April and May, pollination is entomophilous. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. indeed, they only fall in November and are golden yellow. The flowers are hermaphroditic, small in size, yellow in color tending to green and gathered in erect corymbal inflorescences located in the axils of the leaf. Flowering takes place simultaneously with the emission of leaves in April and May, pollination is entomophilous. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. yellow in color verging on green and united in erect corymbose inflorescences located in the leaf axils. Flowering takes place simultaneously with the emission of leaves in April and May, pollination is entomophilous. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. yellow in color verging on green and united in erect corymbose inflorescences located in the leaf axils. Flowering takes place simultaneously with the emission of leaves in April and May, pollination is entomophilous. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal. The fruit is a hanging dark samara with red tones formed by two winged seeds, 2-3 cm long and almost overlapping, since the leaves remain on the plant until November. The trilobe maple has a harder and heavier wood than the other maples, in fact if it is placed in water it goes to the bottom; It is used as firewood, also transformed into charcoal.
Climate and relief
The small maple prefers warm temperate climates, however it grows well even in temperate environments characterized by not excessively harsh winters, in fact it is able to withstand temperatures a few degrees below zero. The best exposures are full sun environments, but it also does well in partially shaded areas. En cuanto al suelo, la canasta es una planta adaptable, de hecho crece en suelos rocosos, calcáreos, pedregosos e incluso arcillosos, sin embargo prefiere suelos sueltos, frescos y bien drenados, mientras que no le gustan los demasiado compactos como están subjects al estancamiento some water. This species is native to the Mediterranean basin and western Asia, it is also present in North Africa and in the south of France; in our country it is widespread, especially in the central and southern regions,
Plant
The three-lobed maple is propagated by seeds, but resorting to propagation by cuttings, specimens identical to the mother plant are obtained. For sowing, in autumn in temperate climates and in spring in colder climates, plants of at least 2.5 m in height are used, with a stem circumference of 16 cm, the size of the hole is 50 X 50 cm with a depth of 70 cm, additionally for support you need two 2 m high wooden pegs which must be driven into the ground for at least 50-60 cm and a crossbar attached to them and attached to the plant. In the case of planting in public parks, plants should be spaced at least 5 m apart, as the roots explore the ground beyond the height of the canopy, while the distance between one plant and another is less due to the formation of hedges.
cultivation techniques
The minor maple is cultivated for ornamental purposes in parks and public gardens in the Mediterranean regions, for the formation of hedges on the hills, for reforestation and renationalization on arid and rocky slopes; in Japan it is used for bonsai because it is adapted to the reduction of leaves and branches thanks to the small leaves and the bushy habit. Pruning is limited to removing dry or damaged parts and branches placed too low. Fertilization is done at sowing by making mature compost, in the following years, if necessary, a slow-release complex fertilizer is distributed at vegetative recovery. Irrigation is necessary the first years after sowing, once adult the basket shows good resistance to drought,