Japan Flora: Tree with the young branches, inflorescence, and petioles white-pubescent; leaves chartaceous, rounded, 6-8 cm. wide, palmately 7- to 11- lobed, sometimes to the middle, shallowly cordate to truncate at base, white-pubescent while young, later nearly glabrous, the lobes narrowly ovate to broadly lanceolate, acuminate, sharply toothed, the petioles 3-4 cm. long; inflorescence a many-flowered compound pendulous corymb, the peduncles 3-5 cm. long; flowers small, pale yellow, 5-merous; sepals about 3 mm. long, pubescent on the outside; ovary white- pubescent; samaras nearly glabrous, the wings ascending, 1.5-2 cm. long inclusive of the nutlets. May. Woods and thickets in mountains; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu; common. Many cultivars are grown in gardens.

var. microphyllum Maxim. Leaves smaller. Occurs with the typical phase.