Baad es Da ate lo 
Tas. 6697. 
ACER INSIGNE. 
Native of Persia. 
Nat. Ord. SapInDACER.—Tribe ACERINEE. 
Genus Acer, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen, Pl. vol. i. p. 409.) 
AcER insigne; ramulis validis glaberrimis, alabastri squamis magnis lineari- 
oblongis rubris, foliis gracile petiolatis ambitu reniformi-rotundatis ad medium 
palmato-5-lobis subtus glaucis, lobis oblongis v. oblongo-lanceolatis grosse 
obtuse serratis, floribus in paniculas terminales pyramidatas dispositis, petalis 
linearibus sepala ovata vix superantibus, filamentis glaberrimis, ovario 
pubescente, samaris glabris v. pilosiusculis alis subdivergentibus. 
A. insigne, Boiss. et Buhse, Aufz. p. 46; Boiss. Fil. Orient. vol. i. p. 947 ; 
G. Nicholson in Gard. Chron. 1881, vol. ii. p. 75. 
A. velutinum?, Van Volzem in Gard. Chron. 1882, vol. i. p. 744. 
The subject of this plate has been much discussed 
amongst botanists and arboriculturists, but its name and 
place have, I think, been definitely settled by Mr. G. 
Nicholson (of this establishment), who communicated to 
the “ Gardener’s Chronicle” a very valuable account of the 
cultivated Maples, including this species. The specimens 
were communicated by M. J. Van Volxem from his fine 
establishment in Belgium, and though still young it pro- 
claims itself to be one of the handsomest species of the 
genus in cultivation, being conspicuous in late spring for 
the size and beautiful colour of the bud-scales, and tender 
green of its pale foliage. M. Van Volxem says of it, that 
it is the hardiest of the eighty species and varieties of 
Maples cultivated by him, having withstood the disastrous 
winters of 1879-80 and 1880-1; and being a late and 
cautious grower, it had never even been nipped by the late 
frosts. Our Kew experience of the plant accords with 
M. Van Volxem’s, but Dr. Masters, whose garden is at a 
considerably higher level than Kew (Haling), says that this 
is not his experience. At this date (May 18th) of this 
very exceptionally late spring, the buds are not even 
JUNE lst, 1883. 
