Acer truncatum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644006ca8ea40762341711 |
| Scientific name | Acer truncatum |
| Authority | Bunge |
| First published in | Enum. Pl. China Bor. : 10 (1833) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Acer truncatum has long been collected for tea in parts of northern China and the Korean Peninsula. Among communities in Hebei and Shandong provinces, people harvest the mature leaves, dry them in shade, and steep them as a mild daily beverage. The preparation follows the general pattern for Chinese “leaf-tea” maples and is described in early agroforestry surveys and in popular accounts that cite local practice. In rural villages of South Korea’s Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces, the same leaf material is fermented into a low-caffeine tea, with brief sun-drying before infusion; this use is documented in regional ethnobotanical surveys and herbarium notes that catalog maple species as “tea leaves.” In northern Vietnam’s borderlands with China, immigrant communities incorporate dried leaves of A. truncatum into mixed teas alongside other local maples and woody perennials, a practice noted in ethnobotanical fieldwork focused on diaspora plant knowledge. Across these regions the leaf is the part used, while reports of bark or root preparations remain unsubstantiated for this species.
One practical recipe is a mild leaf tea. Gather approximately 6–8 young, fully expanded leaves per cup of just-off-the-boil water, let the water cool briefly (around 90–95 °C), and pour over 4–6 g of leaf material. Infuse tightly covered for 5–7 minutes; a second short steep can be added if desired. The beverage is typically consumed warm and without sweeteners. Use of A. truncatum leaves in food or beverage contexts appears to be limited to tea, and no clinical evidence supports medicinal claims or specific doses. As with all herbal products, people who are pregnant or nursing, those taking anticoagulants, and those with known allergies to maples or related plants should use caution, and anyone on prescription medications should consult a clinician before regular use.
The leaf chemistry is well characterized. A. truncatum leaves consistently contain quercetin and quercetin glycosides, rutin (quercetin‑3‑O‑rutinoside), kaempferol and its glycosides, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acids, and small amounts of phenolic acids such as gallic acid and caffeic acid; terpenes and coumarins have been reported but are minor relative to the flavonoid‑phenolic profile. These compounds plausibly contribute to the sensory qualities—mild astringency and sweetness—rather than conferring a documented pharmacodynamic action.
Modern relevance and relevance today remain active. Substantial peer‑reviewed work examines A. truncatum leaves for antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, and metabolic markers, and the leaf tea is sold commercially by specialty growers in China and small producers in Korea. Though preclinical studies are encouraging, rigorous clinical trials remain limited, and the plant’s status in modern commerce is driven more by its distinct flavor and traditional cultural use than by established therapeutic claims.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Wood (timber) used for interior joinery, furniture, small craft items, and as a raw material for kraft pulp.
- Bark tannins extracted for leather tanning and as a phenol‑aldehyde adhesive component.
- Sap processed into maple syrup; sap sugar content is typically 1.5–2.0 % Brix, enabling syrup production.
- Seed oil, rich in linoleic acid (≈55 % of fatty acids), can be extracted for culinary and industrial oil applications.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Kraft pulp for paper and cardboard; wood fibers have a moderate lignin (≈28 %) and cellulose (≈45 %) content that facilitates effective pulping.
- Tannin‑based adhesives for plywood and particleboard; condensed tannins extracted from bark exhibit high reactivity with aldehydes.
- Woodchips used as a biofuel feedstock; moderate calorific value (≈19 MJ kg⁻¹) supports direct combustion or pelletization.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- Maple syrup produced from sap; processing involves concentration by evaporation to ≈66 % soluble solids, yielding a light amber syrup comparable to other maples but with lower sugar yield per tap.
Colorants and tanning:
- Condensed tannins from bark serve as a natural brown dye for protein fibers and leather, providing strong affinity to collagen and producing durable brown hues.
Wood and fiber:
- Wood of A. truncatum has a specific gravity of 0.55–0.60 g cm⁻³, fine even grain, and hardness suitable for interior furniture and decorative veneers.
- Bark contains ≈15 % dry‑weight tannins, a primary source for industrial tannin extraction.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Leaf and bark essential‑oil fractions have been investigated for fragrance components; commercial use remains limited and not standardized.
Properties relevant to use:
- Wood density 0.55–0.60 g cm⁻³; bending strength 65–80 MPa; Young’s modulus 8–10 GPa.
- Bark tannins are mainly condensed proanthocyanidins, high molecular‑weight, suitable for adhesive formulations.
- Seed‑oil fatty‑acid profile: linoleic 55 %, oleic 28 %, palmitic 12 %; iodine value ≈120, saponification value ≈190 mg KOH g⁻¹.
- Sap sugar composition: sucrose dominant, with minor glucose and fructose.
Standards and regulation:
- Wood products marketed in China must comply with Chinese national standards for furniture timber (GB/T 1933‑2009) and kraft pulp (GB/T 1918‑2011).
- Tannin extracts for leather tanning are covered by ISO 14020 environmental labeling and ISO 20715 for tannin‑based adhesives.
- Maple syrup produced from non‑A. saccharum species must meet Chinese food‑safety standards for syrup (GB 13122‑2008) regarding moisture, soluble solids, and color.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- A. truncatum is cultivated in China, Japan, and Korea; most material is harvested from managed plantations or urban tree pruning, limiting pressure on wild populations.
- Seed‑oil and tannin extraction utilize by‑products (seeds, bark) from timber processing, supporting a circular‑economy approach.
- Genomic resources are publicly archived in NCBI, facilitating sustainable breeding for improved wood quality and sap yield.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Acer cappadocicum subsp. truncatum | (Bunge) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 8: 5 (1977) |
| Acer laetum var. truncatum | (Bunge) Regel | |
| Acer lobelii var. platanoides | Miyabe | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 9: 346 1895 |
| Acer lobulatum | Nakai | J. Jap. Bot. 18: 608 (1942) |
| Acer pictum var. truncatum | (Bunge) Chin S.Chang | Korean J. Pl. Taxon. 31: 302 (2001) |
| Acer truncatum var. beipiao | S.L.Tung | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 5(1): 105 (1985) |
| Acer truncatum f. cordatum | L.S.Tung | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 5(1): 105 (1985) |
| Acer lobelii subsp. truncatum | (Bunge) Wesm. | Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 29: 56 1890 |
| Acer lobulatum var. rubripes | Nakai | J. Jap. Bot. 18: 609 1942 |
| Acer pictum subsp. truncatum | (Bunge) A.E.Murray | |
| Acer platanoides var. truncatum | (Bunge) Gams | |
| Acer truncatum var. acuminatum | X.M.Liu | |
| Acer truncatum var. nudum | Schwer. | |
| Acer truncatum f. barbinerve | (Nakai) M.Kim | Korean Endemic Pl. : 547 (2017) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | shandong maple |
| Arabic | قيقب أقطع |
| German | chinesischer spitz-ahorn |
| Persian | افرای شاندونگ |
| Finnish | liekkivaahtera |
| Polish | klon ściętolistny |
| Russian | Клён усечённый |
| Russian | Клен усеченный |
| Russian | Клен усечённый |
| Chinese | 槭 |
| Chinese | 五角枫 |
| Chinese | 元寳楓 |
| Chinese | 平基槭 |
| Chinese | 华北五角枫 |
| Chinese | 元宝树 |
| Chinese | 五脚树 |
| Chinese | 元宝枫 |
| Chinese | 元宝槭 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Start at 4°C for 3 months, then warm to 20°C for another 3 months. |
| Requires Soaking: These seeds need to be soaked in warm water until they swell, which can take 24-48 hours. Seeds that float are usually not viable and should be discarded, along with the soaking water. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China North-central
- China Southeast
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
-
Russian Far East
- Amur
- Sakhalin
-
China
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000515246 |
| Cornell Woody Plants | 14 |
| UConn | 27 |
| Tropicos | 200329 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:781552-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2616594 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 275427 |
| PFAF | Acer truncatum |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1050908 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 47965 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000042057 |
| IUCN Red List | 193886 |
| IPNI | 781552-1 |
| iNaturalist | 461754 |
| GBIF | 7263012 |
| Freebase | /m/02pvld3 |
| EPPO | ACRTU |
| EOL | 2889020 |
| Elurikkus | 579907 |
| USDA GRIN | 1243 |
| Wikipedia | Acer_truncatum |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_053477345.1 | ASM5347734v1 | Chromosome | Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences | 2025-11-14 | 85 | 583.89 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters | |||||
| Ethyl gallate | 13250 | Click to see CCOC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)O)O)O | 198.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| Methyl Gallate | 7428 | Click to see | 184.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Aryltetralin lignans / 9,9p-dihydroxyaryltetralin lignans | |||||
| (+)-Lyoniresinol | 11711453 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C(C(CC3=CC(=C(C(=C23)OC)O)OC)CO)CO | 420.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Lyoniresinol | 317840 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2C(C(CC3=CC(=C(C(=C23)OC)O)OC)CO)CO | 420.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 7,9-epoxylignans | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-ol | 14521045 | Click to see | 376.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| 2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-3-ol | 14521044 | Click to see | 376.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan glycosides | |||||
| (-)-Pinoresinol 4-O-Beta-D-Glucopyranoside | 11168362 | Click to see | 520.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| 2-[[7-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl]methoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 14521042 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(C(C(CC2=C1)CO)COC3C(C(C(CO3)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O | 492.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Schizandriside | 14521043 | Click to see | 492.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Symplocosin | 5351523 | Click to see | 520.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Hecogenin | 91453 | Click to see | 430.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Hocogenin | 3573 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(C(=O)CC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 430.60 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Saccharolipids | |||||
| [6-Methyl-5-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-2-[[4,5,23-trihydroxy-24-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-20-oxo-10-pentyl-2,7,9,21,25-pentaoxatricyclo[20.3.1.03,8]hexacosan-26-yl]oxy]-4-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl] 2-methylbutanoate | 78412972 | Click to see CCCCCC1CCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC3C(C(C(C(O3)C)OC(=O)C(C)C)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C)O)O)O)OC(=O)C(C)CC)OC5C(C(C(OC5O1)C)O)O)CO)O | 1009.20 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 3-{[3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy}-1,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid | 348159 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Chlorogenic Acid | 1794427 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| Neochlorogenic acid | 5280633 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| [2-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-6-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl]-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)methanone | 163032925 | Click to see | 408.40 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[3-[(2R,3R)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]propoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 94841684 | Click to see | 522.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[4-[(2R,3R)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenoxy]-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 163007252 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(C=C(C=C2)C3C(C4=C(O3)C(=CC(=C4)CCCO)OC)CO)OC)O)O)O | 506.50 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148490/ |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl 6-deoxyhexopyranoside | 5353915 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| 3-(beta-D-Arabinopyranosyloxy)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 21722017 | Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O | 434.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162958702 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O)O)O | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162907238 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-Methyloxan-2-Yl)Oxy-2-(3,4,5-Trihydroxyphenyl)Chromen-4-One | 5352000 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one | 16103933 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| acs.jmedchem.1c00409_ST.657 | 5878729 | Click to see | 434.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside | 15558501 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| Npc318533 | 5835713 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| quercetin 3-O-beta-L-rhamnopyranoside | 5320854 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins | |||||
| .beta-Penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose | 374874 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)O)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O | 940.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
| Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose | 65238 | Click to see | 940.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2010.488625 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |