| General Description | This species is a very rare maple with less than 200 individuals and has been placed on the IUCN Red List as globally threatened. |
| Cultivation | Moist, acidic well drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Requires protection from strong winds. |
| Notable Specimens | Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. |
| Habitat | Valleys at an altitude of 2,300-2,900 m near Muli in south west Sichuan. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bark is ash-grey with slender, spreading brown branches. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Purplish buds. |
| Leaf Description | Leaves are palmate with 5-7 leaflets, 7 x 1.5 cm, light green above, tinged blue and glabrous beneath and 5 lobes. Leaves turn a yellow to orange to red in autumn. |
| Flower Description | Yellowish, 5 petaled flowers with 8 stamens. |
| Fruit Description | Pubescent nutlet, 2.3-2.5 cm x 8 mm, produced in September. |
