Tree ID type of trident maple?

BrightsideB

Omono
Messages
1,550
Reaction score
2,488
Location
Canton, Georgia
USDA Zone
7a
I have this tree next to the building I work at and I think it is a trident maple. I just haven’t seen one with this type of bark color and leaf shape.
E1477D74-376A-48E8-92B7-CE1DF5799148.jpeg67BB6D8D-7FC9-4BE2-8F4B-8E27D093951A.jpeg
 
I don't think this isn't a Trident. It does seem to be some sort of Maple judging by the winged seeds though.
I hope I can find out what it is. The leaf shape is pretty true. Some are round leaves though. I got some seedlings and they look like this
E15DE5DB-F4B9-46BF-9740-3161699A2D1D.jpeg
 
It's a trident as far as I can tell.

Theres some in my neighborhood park that are labled as such and the leaf shape(s) are identical. As far as I understand, within the acer buergerainum family? there is a lot of variation in characteristics including leaf shape. There's also that Taiwanese (miyasama) trident that also has a leaf shape like this, but the leaves are much more glossy in appearance.

Here's a picture that illustrates some of the shapes.

I also had the same experience with the seeds that I collected. The seedlings have a much pointier leaf shape than the parent plant.

1661841661369.png
 
It is definitely a trident maple.
Leaf shape changes as the tree matures. As you've found, young trees have the traditional 3 point leaves we are familiar with but as they get bigger and older the leaves change to the longer, spade shape.
Bark can vary with individuals and time of year. Some trees shed bark clean so have smoother trunks, some retain more older bark and end up looking shaggy. At the far end there's the 'arakawa' type where older bark is held firm so it ends up with thicker, craggy bark.

Keep growing seedlings from your tree. They make great bonsai projects and develop quite quickly.
 
I hope you don't mind me piling on RK. I have a very similar if not the same tree in my daughters back yard. This one show a reddish color to the flakey bark and leaves vary in shape on even the same branch. It has been planted there and non native I believe as all her other trees are.

She just sold the house so I'm happy I collected a couple seedlings this summer. Maybe Trident but?IMG_20220725_145033751_HDR.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220725_112155213_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20220725_112155213_HDR.jpg
    336.1 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG_20220725_112206018_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20220725_112206018_HDR.jpg
    409.6 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG_20220725_114446619_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20220725_114446619_HDR.jpg
    383.6 KB · Views: 10
  • IMG_20220725_145113004_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20220725_145113004_HDR.jpg
    330.2 KB · Views: 13
It is definitely a trident maple.
Leaf shape changes as the tree matures. As you've found, young trees have the traditional 3 point leaves we are familiar with but as they get bigger and older the leaves change to the longer, spade shape.
Bark can vary with individuals and time of year. Some trees shed bark clean so have smoother trunks, some retain more older bark and end up looking shaggy. At the far end there's the 'arakawa' type where older bark is held firm so it ends up with thicker, craggy bark.

Keep growing seedlings from your tree. They make great bonsai projects and develop quite quickly.
Thanks for the info. All the tridents I’ve noticed and seen whether bonsai or landscape seemed to have smooth light bark that I can remember so I was curious about this tree. I like the shaggy brown bark on this one. I have one trident I bought with white smooth bark.
 
I hope you don't mind me piling on RK. I have a very similar if not the same tree in my daughters back yard. This one show a reddish color to the flakey bark and leaves vary in shape on even the same branch. It has been planted there and non native I believe as all her other trees are.

She just sold the house so I'm happy I collected a couple seedlings this summer. Maybe Trident but?View attachment 453767
I think @Shibui answered the question about trident. There are slight variations with them. Looks like a trident.
 
And the baby
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220830_161404872_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20220830_161404872_HDR.jpg
    186.8 KB · Views: 10
Thanks for the info. All the tridents I’ve noticed and seen whether bonsai or landscape seemed to have smooth light bark that I can remember so I was curious about this tree. I like the shaggy brown bark on this one. I have one trident I bought with white smooth bark.
Mature Tridents have exfoliating bark. Bonsai people clean it off as it can look odd and can harbor insects. That tree is a trident though.

 
Back
Top Bottom