The Hermon maple (Acer hermoneum) is a rare species of maple tree native to the eastern Mediterranean, particularly found in Lebanon and Syria, including the slopes of Mount Hermon, from which it gets its name. It is a small deciduous tree or shrub, typically growing between 2 to 5 meters in height.
Habitat and ecology
The Hermon maple thrives in montane regions at high altitudes, particularly in limestone-rich soils, and is part of the Eastern Mediterranean and Levantine flora, adapted to semi-arid and mountainous environments. Due to its restricted range, it is considered vulnerable or rare. While not widely studied in conservation lists like the IUCN Red List, its limited distribution and threats from deforestation and climate change make it a species of conservation concern.
Identification
Snapshot
A small tree, 2-5 meters tall, with young branches often reddish. The leaves are long-petioled, rarely exceeding 3 cm in length and width, trilobed, or occasionally showing traces of two additional lobes. Their underside is paler but not glaucous, becoming somewhat leathery over time. The lobes are deeply cut into the blade, highly variable in shape—either entire and triangular or broader with crenulated lobules, sometimes resembling a vine leaf.Floral cymes are relatively short. The samaras have prominently protruding, subcarinate capsules that are shiny and covered with long, flexuous, whitish hairs. The wings range from brownish to red-purple, either converging or slightly spread apart.
Petals & Paws
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