74 Forest Trees and Shrubs of Meriden, Conn. 



124. AMPELOPSIS QUINQUEFOLIA. (Michaux.) 



Virginia Creeper. American Ivy. 



Quite common ; growing from ten to fifty feet long ; adhering 

 to trees and walls. One of the most ornamental of the climbers. 



XXV. RHAMNACEiE. The Buckthorn Family. 



125. RHAMNUS CATHARTICUS. (Linn.) 



This is introduced, and has become quite naturalized, it is a 

 low tree, or shrub, with a grayish bark, and is much used for 

 hedges, as it will bear severe pruning. Flowers in May. Fruit in 

 October. The berries are used medicinally as a cathartic. The 

 R. ainifolia, Alder-leaved Buckthorn, is found in moist grounds, 

 and grows from four to six feet high. Flowers without petals, and 

 fruit black. 



XXVI. ACERACE^. The Maple Family. 



126. ACER RUBRUM. (Linn.) 



Red Maple. Scarlet Maple. Swamp Maple Soft Ma- 

 ple. Water Maple. 



Grows from forty to sixty feet high, and from one to two feet or 

 more in diameter. Wood white or slightly tinted with red, hard, 

 close-grained, easily worked: a little heavier than White Maple, 

 and not as valuable as the Sugar Maple as fuel. Largely used in 

 cabinet-making, gun-stocks, wooden ware. This species furnishes 

 the Curled and Bird's-eye Maple for cabinet work. Specific grav- 

 ity, 0.6178; ash, 0.37. 



127. ACER DASYCARPUM. (Ehrh.) 



White Maple. Silver-leaved Maple. Soft Maple. 



Grows from thirty to sixty feet high, and two feet or more in 

 diameter. This is one of the most rapid growing of all our maples. 

 Wood white, fine-grained, hard, susceptible to polish. Used for 

 cheap furniture, flooring, etc. Specific gravity, 0.5269; ash, 0.33. 



