Acer palmatum
- noun
- Specialized
- The Acer palmatum is a stunning addition to any garden.
Examples
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The leaves of the Acer palmatum turn brilliant shades of red and orange in autumn.
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Many people admire the Acer palmatum for its graceful shape and beautiful autumn colors.
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A mature Acer palmatum can be the focal point of a traditional Japanese garden.
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Many gardeners prize the Acer palmatum for its delicate, lacy foliage.
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I planted an Acer palmatum in my backyard last spring.
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The Acer palmatum is a stunning addition to any garden with its vibrant red leaves.
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In spring, the Acer palmatum displays delicate green leaves that turn shades of red and orange in the fall.
Synonyms
A small tree or shrub from Japan with delicate, deeply cut leaves that turn bright colors in autumn
Surface Forms
Morphology
Acer + palmatum
Botanical Latin names are compositional: the genus 'Acer' identifies the maple group and the species epithet 'palmatum' (from Latin for 'palmate') describes the leaf form. If a learner knows both constituents, they can infer this is a particular Acer species characterized by palmate, deeply lobed leaves and thus understand the referent, so the meaning is transparently derived from the parts.
Etymology
Acer palmatum comes from Latin words: Acer means 'maple' and palmatum means 'shaped like a hand'. The leaves spread like fingers, so the name gives a simple picture to remember this small garden tree.