Acer campestre
Specifications
Family
Sapindaceae
Species
Acer campestre L.
field maple
hedge maple
Description
Pinkish-whitish in color, it is not clearly differentiated, has a fine or medium texture, variable grain, and a volumetric weight ranging from 0.62 to 0.90 with an average of 0.74. If dried with hot air, it may present chromatic alterations.
Plant morphology
A small deciduous tree (10-20 m tall), with a sinuous trunk and dense, rounded crown. After its youthful growth period, it grows slowly, rarely exceeding 150 years of age. The bark, yellowish and sometimes slightly corky when young, quickly turns grayish-brown, breaking up into small, persistent rectangular plates.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central and Southern Europe; its range is limited to the east by the Vistula and Don rivers in Russia, to the north by Scotland and Ireland, and to the west by the Iberian Peninsula. It is found in the cooler areas of North Africa, Pontic Anatolia (Black Sea), the Caucasus, and Iran.
Habitat and ecology
In Italy, it is widespread in meso-thermophilous forests, especially deciduous oak forests, between the plains and 1,000 m above sea level (up to 1,600 m in Sicily). A sun-loving species, it prefers fairly rich soils and, if coppiced, it grows well from the stump. It is commonly grown in hedges and as a live support for vines.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
This wood is used for furniture, gunstocks, handles and agricultural tools.
Use in musical instruments
Widely used in violin making for the production of backs, ribs and sides of both bowed and plucked instruments.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Globally, field maple populations are stable. Despite this, this species is vulnerable to attacks by the Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis).
Conservation measures
Monitoring populations is desirable in order to prevent their potential decline as a result of attacks by the Asian longhorn beetle.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2017
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2017
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Fine, Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
660
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
High, Medium
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
High, Medium
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
118
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
9600
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
Its use in urban environments should be increased given some of its characteristics: it has interesting foliage in autumn (a good ornamental feature), when mature it is small in size and requires little maintenance.