Botanical Name: Acer tataricum
Family: Sapindaceae
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Genus: Acer
Section: Acer sect. Ginnala
Species: A. tataricum
Synonyms:
*Acer cordifolium Moench
*Euacer tataricum (L.) Opiz
*Acer aidzuense (Franch.) Nakai
*Acer subintegrum Pojark.
*Acer ginnala Maxim.
*Acer theiferum W.P.Fang
*Acer semenovii Regel & Herder
Common Names: Tatar maple or Tatarian maple
Habitat: Acer tataricum is a species of maple widespread across central and southeastern Europe and temperate Asia, from Austria and Turkey east as far as Japan and the Russian Far East. The species is named after the Tatar peoples of southern Russia; the tree’s name is similarly commonly also spelled “Tartar” in English. It grows on rocky slopes and river valleys.
Description:
Acer tataricum is a deciduous spreading shrub or small tree growing to 4–12 metres (13–39 ft) tall, with a short trunk up to 20–50 centimetres (7.9–19.7 in) diameter and slender branches. The bark is thin, pale brown, and smooth at first but becoming shallowly fissured on old plants. The leaves are opposite and simple, broadly ovate, 4.5–10 centimetres (1.8–3.9 in) long and 3–7 centimetres (1.2–2.8 in) broad, unlobed or with three or five shallow lobes, and matte green above; the leaf margin is coarsely and irregularly toothed; the leaf petiole is slender, often pink-tinged, 2–5 centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) long. The flowers are whitish-green, 5–8 millimetres (0.20–0.31 in) diameter, produced in spreading panicles in spring as the leaves open. The fruit is a paired reddish samara, 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in) long with a 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) wing, maturing in late summer to early autumn.
Cultivation:
Cultivation Of Acer tataricum is easy, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil on the acid side and a sunny position. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Chlorosis can sometimes develop as a result of iron deficiency when the plants are grown in alkaline soils, but in general maples are not fussy as to soil pH. Trees usually fruit abundantly in Britain. A bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants. Special Features:Not North American native, Fragrant flowers, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Edible Uses:
The sap contains a certain amount of sugar and can either be used as a drink, or can be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The concentration of sugar is considerably lower than in the sugar maples (A. saccharum). The tree trunk is tapped in the early spring, the sap flowing better on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates. Seed – cooked. The wings are removed and the seeds are then boiled.
Medicinal Uses: Not Known to us.
Other Uses:
The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them. Tatar maple is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant in gardens throughout Europe and also in North America. In Russia, it is valued in farmland shelterbelts
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_tataricum
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acer+tataricum
