The Vertrees put Oshu beni in the palmatum (group 1b) but this site shows one of the rare picture of Oshu beni I've been able to find on the Internet and this is clearly a matsumurae leaf (Group 3b).
Does anyone has an Oshu beni and can tell me which group does Oshu beni belong to ?
I have removed my previous post and photos as I have come to believe that the Vertrees description in the 3rd ed. of a 7-9 lobe palmatum is correct for Oshu beni, not the red amoenum type tree I pictured. It was my mistake to rely so heavily on the label rather than a solid text description. Even a plant from a reliable source is not always what we wish it to be. The tree I previously pictured will resurface under the correct name as some point, should I come to know it.
As for your question below, the validity of the photo you linked, that tree would certainly not meet the lobe division description in the text of "divided 2/3" of the way to the leaf base or petiole nor would that tree qualify as "faintly toothed."
Vertrees lists many so called synonyms as usual, so that might speak to the issue of multiple forms or a confused history. Sorry I have no more to share about the plant.
MJH
Last edited by mjh1676; November 17th, 2005 at 10:07 PM.
Andre, the cultivar as referenced is not Ōshu beni but
is Ōsyu beni. It was because of the Ōsyu beni that was
in Japan and not in the US is why the Ōshu beni was sent
to Japan for others to determine if they were the same
plant or not. Once the Maple was agreed upon by
committee to be different than the venerable Ōsyu beni
the Ōshu beni, common name spelling is Oshu beni, was
named in Japan in the early 60's.
The description of Oshu beni in the Vertrees 2nd edition Japanese Maples book on page 62 was written by Mr. Don
Kleim by request as Oshu beni was his Maple. Originally
called Don's Big Red as a selected seedling in the Henderson
Experimental Gardens nursery and is not related to an Ōshio
beni.
This Maple was only propagated one time for specialized
collections and was not ever offered for sale at the nursery.
Below is a photo of my old plant and I've only known of
five of them, this one and two more at the nursery and two
examples in Japan. What you see is a photo of the Maple
taken in late June after the red has started to fade with the
green undertone making its presence due in part to afternoon
sun protection.
