hawthorn-leaf maple; uri maple
A species of maple native to Japan, Acer crataegifolium. The name comes from the resemblance of its bark to that of a melon (瓜).
The hawthorn-leaf maple is a type of maple that grows wild in the mountains of Japan.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form is rare; the plant is usually written in kana.
The name ウリカエデ (瓜楓) literally means 'melon maple', referring to the melon-like pattern of the bark.