Mt Takao is located at the borderline of warm-temperature zone and cool-temperature zone and various plants from both zones grow. There are a lot of naturally grown plants and their visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers. Over 1,500 kinds of plants are confirmed which is relevant to the number of kinds naturally grow in England. Also, over 60 kinds of plants are first found in Mt. Takao such as Takao Sumire (V. yezoensis f. discolor) and Takao Higotai (Saussurea sinuatoides).
They are deciduous small trees or shrubs that grow wild at sunny arid places such as at the hilly areas and in the mountain districts. Cortex is tinged with green, which resembles Cucumis melo var. makuwa and this is the reason for their name ‘Acer crata egitorium’. The leaves are the smallest among the group of Aceraceae plant, about 4 to 8 cm long. The blossom seasons are about April to May. As they are monoecious trees, pale yellow flowers blossom about 8 mm long. A male flower attaches to the scion shooting among the sprouted leaves, while a female flower at the top of the branch. In summer the group of Aceraceae plant transforms themselves into the seeds named ‘samara or winged seed’ with the wings (Yokuka) so that they can fly on the wind. Also, they are double-divided paper fan-like shaped (Uchiwa), the seeds of this species are tinged with red and show up very well. In autumn the leaves turn to yellow to be autumn color leaves. The leaves of Acer rufinerve, which resembles with cortex, turn to red.
●Height about 6 to 8 m
●Place Trail and 2, Trail 4, Minami-Takao
●Height about 6 to 8 m
●Place Trail and 2, Trail 4, Minami-Takao