Acer campestre occurs in three main forms, as a tree, as coppice or as an uncoppiced shrub in the understorey (Jones 1945). It is most commonly present as coppice, to which it is well suited, but often occurs as a tall understory shrub and in untended open woodland can form a tree over 20m in height (Jones 1945, Vedel and Lange, 1978). The young branches are at first green, quickly becoming light reddish-brown in colour, with light brown longitudinal strips. The branches often have cork-like fluting. The bark is very light grey, smooth with irregular fissures when young and cracked when older. It is easily separated from other maples by its small, five-lobed, rounded leaves. They are dull green above, pubescent when young, paler underneath and are persistently pubescent along the veins (Clapham, et al. 1987). The winged fruits of Acer campestre are about 2.5cm long (Gamlin, 1985), and are distinguishable from those of other maples in that their wings are horizontal rather than curved (Wilkinson, 1976).