By Pat725
United States 
My friend is moving and gave me a Tamukeyana she has just gotten. It is just a tall stick. No branches, not foliage. I've planted it but am concerned that it's just a stick. Shouldn't it have branches? Is it dead?
23 Jun, 2010
Answers
Prise up a bit of bark with your fingernail near the base of the stem.
If the inner bark is green - its alive.
If its brown - its dead.
23 Jun, 2010
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I'm assuming that you mean an Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum 'Tamukeyama'? in which case it most certainly should have foliage by this time of the year - having leafed out in early to mid spring - and you can safely conclude that it is indeed dead.
23 Jun, 2010