Montpellier maple

A stiff, upright, twiggy and stocky tree with small dark green leathery leaves.  Tolerataes extreme heat and drought.  A medium-sized tree, depending on the climate.  It is sometimes confused with Acer campestre, the Hedge maple.  This species from the Mediterranean region is a small tidy tree or large shrub to 40 ft.  The 3-lobed leaves are 2 in. wide and are smooth, leathery and glaucuous on the underside.  There are long pendulous clusters of winged fruits.  The bark is smooth and dark gray.