苦条枫 ku tiao feng

Basionym: Acer ginnala Maximowicz subsp. theiferum W. P. Fang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 17(1): 72. 1979; A. tataricum var. acuminatum Franchet.

Leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, 5-8 × 2.5-5 cm, thinly papery, abaxially white pilose, unlobed or slightly 3- or 5-lobed; lobes marginally duplicately serrate-dentate. Corymb ca. 3 cm, white pubescent. Samara large, wing including nutlet 2.5-3.5 cm, spreading at right or acute angle, glabrous. Fl. May, fr. Sep.

● Sparse forests; below 1800 m. Anhui, N Guangdong, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Zhejiang.

The name "Acer theiferum" (W. P. Fang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 11: 151. 1966) belongs here but was not validly published because two gatherings were indicated as types (Vienna Code, Art. 37.2). The intended new combination A. ginnala subsp. theiferum W. P. Fang was validly published as the name of a new subspecies because a full and direct reference was given to the Latin description and diagnosis of "A. theiferum" and a single gathering (W. P. Fang 10413, PE) was indicated as the type (Art. 45.1).

One of us (Chang) believes that this subspecies is a form of Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala and should be treated as a synonym of that taxon. However, another of us (Chen) believes that subsp. theiferum is different from subsp. ginnala in its leaf morphology and geographic distribution.