Acer monspessulanum
Montepelier maple

Montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum) is a small, slow-growing, monoecious, deciduous tree, often with dense branches, smooth bark, and multiple stems. Montpellier maple is morphologically hermaphroditic but has unisex flowers, with wind-dispersed seeds. It is native to the Mediterranean region, from Portugal in the west, to Syria and western Iran in the east (Motahari et al., 2021).

The tree is valued for its hard, dense, heavy wood, which is used in furniture making and small constructions such as musical instruments (Mechergui, Jaouadi and Khouja, 2018). The tree is now mostly used for ornamental purposes because of its yellow leaves in autumn, for restoration of degraded landscapes, and for preventing soil erosion and desertification (Motahari et al., 2021).

It is a hardy tree that can tolerate drought and flooding. It thrives in a variety of habitats, from sea level to 1 500 metres, preferring limestone and humus–carbonate soils in forested areas and scrublands. Montpellier maple is the maple species best adapted to dry conditions, growing on dry, gravelly slopes, and acidic, shallow, and stony soils in warm climates (Mechergui, Jaouadi and Khouja, 2018).

in situ genetic conservation unit
ex situ genetic conservation unit
Map elements
Download the distribution map
About map elements

To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"

Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)


Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

Status of Acer monspessulanum conservation in Europe

Montpellier maple shows moderate to high genetic diversity in Iranian populations, with greater variation within populations than between them (Motahari et al., 2021). However, populations show moderate to high levels of genetic differentiation, and Iranian populations were clustered into groups with genetic differences related to geographic distance, showing gene flow among populations may be limited (Motahari et al., 2021).

The species shows considerable morphological variation with altitude. This may indicate genetic differences or clusters related to altitude; however, no research has been done on this (Mechergui, Jaouadi and Khouja, 2018). The species’ genetic diversity may also decrease from the core to the periphery of its range, suggesting past population contractions and expansions.

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.

No available information.

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.

Threats

Montpellier maple has very small, fragmented populations that are made up of sparse and scattered trees. These populations are vulnerable to deforestation, forest fragmentation, and environmental change, making the species susceptible to genetic drift and inbreeding events (Motahari et al., 2021). The species’ ability to adapt to changes in habitat and climate are unknown, making genetic monitoring important to evaluate its conservation status (Motahari et al., 2021).

Management

Conservation efforts should focus on mitigating genetic threats, such as habitat fragmentation, which leads to reduced gene flow and genetic diversity. However, there is a lack of literature on the genetic diversity of Montpellier maple in Europe; therefore, studies of Iranian genetic diversity could be used to guide conservation of the species (Motahari et al., 2021). Management strategies could include the establishment of protected areas, promotion of habitat connectivity, and ex situ conservation.

 

The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.

Genetic Characterisation of Acer monspessulanum and its GCUs

Availability of FRM

FOREMATIS

Related publications

Contacts of experts

NA

Further reading

Nadi, H., Saravi, A.T. and Kiani, B. 2017. Seed source and parental tree effects on germination rate and seedling growth of Acer monspessulanum (Case study: Chenarnaz forest in southern of Yazd Province). Iranian Journal of Rangelands and Forests Plant Breeding and Genetic Research, 25(1): Pe123–Pe133.

References

Mechergui, K., Jaouadi, W. and Khouja, M.L. 2018. Dendroecology of Montpellier maple’s population (Acer monspessulanum) from the North Africa region: Analysis of maple stations characteristics and natural habitat. Plant Biosystems An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 152(1): 98–109.

Motahari, B., Shabanian, N., Rahmani, M.S. and Mohammad-Hasani, F. 2021. Genetic diversity and genetic structure of Acer monspessulanum L. across Zagros forests of Iran using molecular markers. Gene, 769: 145245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2020.145245