Chinese paperbark maple11/28/2023 ![]() ![]() Though no collections of living germplasm resulted, the herbarium specimens, descriptions, and photographic documentation of this individual tree have redefined our thinking about the potential of this species. It was estimated to be about 27 meters (88.6 feet) tall. This was incredible… We can’t describe the impact of the bark color and the massive stem-the effect was overwhelming.” This tree measured 81.4 centimeters (32 inches) in diameter at 3 meters (9.8 feet) above the ground. The collectors wrote in their journal, “Holy Hannah! We encountered the biggest specimen we ever saw of Acer griseum. They spotted the tree from afar its leaves had not yet emerged, and they were struck by a distinct warm orange glow reflecting from the tree’s bark. ![]() The following year, in April 1995, NACPEC team members Rick Lewandowski, Teicheng Cui, and Ned Garvey spotted an incredible specimen of paperbark maple in the Baxiam Forest Station in Shaanxi, less than 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Wudang Mountain. Paperbark maple is noted for its beautiful bark and red-orange autumn foliage color. Using pole pruners, we were able to collect herbarium specimens and a small seed sample. With careful observation though, we spotted the winged samaras in the upper canopy. Being in the understory, most were leggy and the foliage was high off the ground. The paperbark maples growing on Wudang Mountain were relatively small, growing on a west-facing slope in thin, rocky soil. Dubbed “horticulture heaven” by the collectors, we found many choice species including Stewartia sinensis, Cornus kousa, Cornus controversa, Ilex pernyi, and many others growing naturally on this mountainside. It was one of the most biologically diverse habitats that any of us had ever experienced. On September 21st, 1994, the Hubei expedition team was especially excited to find a scattering of paperbark maples in the understory of a rich, diverse forest at an elevation of 836 meters (2743 feet). Wudang is the site of a famous Taoist temple, and the forests on its slopes have been relatively well protected. Of the many hundreds of plants I have observed and collected in China, none were more exciting than finding a grove of wild paperbark maples on Wudang Mountain in Hubei in 1994. The re-collection of paperbark maple to introduce greater genetic diversity has been a high priority from the very beginning of NACPEC planning. Some contemporary seedlings lack vigor, a possible sign of inbreeding over the past century. It is believed that until recently, all or most paperbark maples in the United States derived from the genetically narrow 1907 Wilson introduction-it consisted of only two plants. In addition to its stunning bark, this species is widely admired for its clean, fine-textured foliage, orange-red fall color, and relatively small stature, usually under 35 feet (10.7 meters) tall. Wilson through the Arnold Arboretum in 1907. It was first introduced to the United States by E. It is frequently highlighted in public gardens and connoisseurs’ gardens throughout the temperate world. Paperbark maple is an iconic Chinese species with beautiful exfoliating cinnamon-colored bark that never fails to grab attention. Presented here are thirteen profiles of notable plants collected on these expeditions. During NACPEC expeditions plant species are targeted for collection for a range of reasons including environmental adaptabilities, conservation value, and ornamental features.
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