dwarf+Japanese+maple


 * Japanese Maple**



__Historical Origins of the plant:__ This plant has been cultivated for over 400 years, since the 1600s. The Japanese are well known for their accomplishments in horticulture, and the maple is one of their many beautiful plants. "During the Edo era (1603-1867) horticulture flourished and reached a high level of development in selection, breeding, culture and specialization....Japanese maples reached a peak of popularity in the seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century. It became fashionable to select, cultivate and nurture as many different types as possible." (Japanese Maples, J.D. Vertrees)

__The Cultural Significance of the plant:__ Generally, the word "momliji" is applied to the Japanese Maple. This word has dual meanings, "baby hands", and "becomes crimson leaves". The cultivation of this tree has been greatly appreciated and intensively grown throughout Japan for centuries, making the Japanese Maple a cultural favorite. Horticulturalists have also used the Japanese Maple in the creation of a bonsai tree. Creating and sustaining a bonsai tree is very time consuming, and is considered an art. The unique coloring and small size/shape of the Japanese Maple makes it a very favorable and popular tree for gardens.

__The Importation or Cultivation of the plant in the United States:__ In the late 1700s, Carl Thurnberg, a Swedish botanist traveled to Japan where he was introduced to the Japanese Maple. He brought the plant back to Europe and wrote a book called Flora Japonica which documented many plants from his trip to Asia. By 1828, the tree was brought to England but no explicit record of its journey to America was documented.

__What we can learn about culture (in the U.S. or in the place of origin for the plant) from studying the plant:__ By exploring the origin of the Japanese Maple, students can be introduced to the rich culture of the Early Eastern World. So much of the social studies curriculum is focused on Western European history, I think it is important for students to be exposed to the accomplishments of the eastern world. The Chinese and Japanese were known for cultivating several unique and beautiful plants, which are now favorites in American today.

We can also learn about globalization through the importation of plants from nation to nation.

__Sources__:
 * http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=RPu3xB_ssVQC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=history+of+japanese+maple&source=bl&ots=l_eiKd9Wz7&sig=kk4jmghLiuc8hj2zaCvO27jzMzg&hl=zh-CN&ei=D_fRTKrOC8OC8gats5jHDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=history%20of%20japanese%20maple&f=false
 * http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-the-Japanese-Red-Maple-Bonsai&id=4060873
 * http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32554468.tip.html
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum