A very weird occurrence - my maple tree has morphed

[truedelphi]

Into a tree with quite different leaves. It also has what at first I thought were passion fruit flowers - but which are actually St John's wort flowers.

Last year, this forty foot tree was a maple tree. Had the typical maple leaves, with the five wings going up the stem of each leaf, and all leaves having the typical pattern of a maple leaf.

Now the tree has a leaf that more or less resembles a child's attempt to draw a human han d. No small frills on the "wings" of the leaves. Only four segregations to each leaf.

And the St John's wort is sprouting off the end tip of the branches. It is not a vine. I have had my spouse, two neighbors and my landlord examine said tree - and all see what I am seeing.

How did this happen? Any thoughts?

When my real computer is working again, I can film the tree. And then post photos or movie of said tree.

[kestrel91316]

1. definitely need photos

[enough]

6. +1 (nt)

[truedelphi]

8. Monday i will have photos to upload and the use

Of a modern enough com puter to transfer and upload the photos onto this site.

Tree situation is really bizarre.

Although the tree is healthy looking, and the leaves and the buds are all very atttractive. Just not anything any maple tree has done before. (That I know of.)

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Your tree ma have contracted a disease.

Take leaves to a competent nursery and have an expert look at them.

[Kali]

3. yep

[Kali]

4. I have an apricot tree that does odd growth

about this time of year - I think it is responding to a short but intense period of some kind of small insect attack. Mostly shows on the tips of upper branches so I never notice whatever causes it. After a while the leaves look normal again.

[mn9driver]

5. Sounds like a parasitic growth.

Maple trees can't change into another species. It might be mistletoe or something like that. Look carefully at the whole tree to see if some of the leaves are still maple. If not, then your maple tree is dead and something else is using it.

[truedelphi]

7. The tree is as healthy as they come.

It is just that every single leaf on it no longer has the familiar maple leaf pattern.

And buds of St John's wort are coming forth from the tips of the branches.

By Monday I will have some photos up to demonstrate what I am talking about.

[Shagbark Hickory]

9. Sounds like mistletoe. What kind of maple are we talking about here? It is a cultivar?

[Denninmi]

10. Any photos???

I'd really like to see this.

Personally, I think what you are seeing is the reproductive phase of the tree. Many plants, and some trees, have what is known as "juvenile" and "adult" foliage -- different leave patter, shape, or size in the young vegetative phase than from the mature, reproductive phase. What you are calling a "St. Johns wort flower" could be the bloom or a developing fruit/seed of some kind.

Please post photos ASAP, I'd love to see them.

Also, where is this located, what part of the country, climate zone?

One possible (albeit unlikely) candidate is Moosewood aka Striped Maple, Acer pennsylvanicum. It blooms in late spring with yellowish, terminal clusters. However, I think July is pushing it, more a May-early June bloomer I believe.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. OP is in "Lake County, CA" Highly doubt its A. pennsylvanicum.

Although as you pointed out, pictures are needed.

[Denninmi]

12. Probably not, then.

Sorry, I didn't see any information about where the OP lived, so I was just taking a stab in the dark.