Tunpetti

Maple

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Spaethii'

Summary: The trunks of 'Tunpetti' have grey-green mature wood while those of 'Spaethii' have mostly grey mature wood. 'Tunpetti' has numerous lenticels on the shoots while 'Spaethii' has a medium number of lenticels on the shoots. The leaves of 'Tunpetti' are larger than those of 'Spaethii'. 'Tunpetti' has very sparse pubescence between veins and dense pubescence along veins on the lower side of the leaf while 'Spaethii' has medium to dense pubescence between veins and very dense pubescence along veins on the lower side. The pubescence on the leaves of 'Tunpetti' is on the veins and vein axils on the lower side of the leaf only while for 'Spaethii' the pubescence is over the entire leaf on the upper and lower side. 'Tunpetti' is dark purple brown on the lower surface of the leaf while 'Spaethii' is dark violet. The petioles of 'Tunpetti' are longer than those of 'Spaethii'. 'Tunpetti' has absent or very sparse pubescence on the petiole while 'Spaethii' has pubescence ranging from medium density to dense. The petioles of 'Tunpetti' are dark purple red while those of 'Spaethii' are brown purple mixed with green tones. 'Tunpetti' has weak anthocyanin colouration on the midrib and strong anthocyanin colouration on the lateral veins on the lower surface of the leaf while 'Spaethii' has absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration on the midvein and lateral veins on the lower surface.

Description:

PLANT: tree, upright and well branched growth habit, medium branching density, medium to vigorous rate of growth
SHOOT: medium thickness, grey brown (RHS 199A) when immature, grey green when mature, absent or very sparse pubescence, absent or very weak glaucosity, round in cross-section, bark smooth with fissuring, numerous medium sized lenticels
VEGETATIVE BUD: small, green tipped with reddish brown, conical, pointed apex, pubescence present along margin, strong overlapping of scales

LEAF: simple, palmate, cordate base, acuminate apex, serrate margins, very weak undulation, 5 lobes present, medium depth of lobe sinus, toothed margin of lobe sinus, ovate lobe, absent or very sparse pubescence on upper surface of young leaves, very sparse pubescence between veins and dense pubescence along veins and vein axils on lower surface, white to grey pubescence, bronze when first unfolding, dark green (RHS 137A) on upper surface, dark purple brown (RHS N186C) on lower surface, yellow before leaf drop, weak anthocyanin colouration on midrib on lower surface, strong brown purple (RHS 184A) anthocyanin colouration on lateral veins on lower surface
PETIOLE: absent or very sparse pubescence, strong anthocyanin colouration (RHS 185A) on upper surface
STIPULES: absent

Origin & Breeding History: 'Tunpetti' originated from a group of chance seedlings discovered near Hubbards, Nova Scotia on August 12, 2002. Selection of 'Tunpetti' from the discovered seedlings was based on leaf colour and leaf size.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Tunpetti' were conducted in both the field and containers during the spring-summer of 2009 in Strathroy, Ontario. The trees were grown from buds grafted on Acer pseudoplatanus rootstock. The field trial included forty, 3 year old trees of the candidate variety and five, 3 year old trees of the reference variety. The container trial included 25 trees of the candidate variety growing in 32 litre containers. Leaf characteristics for the candidate variety were taken on plants from the container trial. All other observations and measurements on the candidate and reference varieties were made on trees in the field trial. Measurements for both trials were taken from 10 plants of each variety on June 23, 2009. All colour determinations were made using the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'Tunpetti' with reference variety 'Spaethii'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Colour of leaf (RHS)

Petiole length (cm)

Colour of petiole (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Maple: 'Tunpetti' (left) with reference variety 'Spaethii' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Maple: 'Tunpetti' (left) with reference variety 'Spaethii' (right)