ACER SACCHARUM, MARSH. 147 



Maine, the Rangeley lake region ; New Hampshire, 

 occasional near the Connecticut river 5 Vermont, frequent 

 in the western part in the Champlain valley, occasional in all 

 other sections, especially in the vicinity of the Connecticut ; 

 Massachusetts, occasional in the Connecticut river valley 

 and westward, doubtfully reported from eastern sections ; 

 Rhode Island, doubtful, resting on the authority of Colonel 

 Olney's list ; Connecticut, doubtfully reported. 



South along the Alleghanies to the Gulf states ; west to the 95th 

 meridian. 



The extreme forms of nigrum show well-marked varietal 

 differences ; but there are few, if any, constant characters. 

 Further research in the field is necessary to determine the 

 status of these interesting plants. 



Habit. The black maple is somewhat smaller than the sugar 

 maple, the bark is darker and the foliage more sombre. It 

 generally has a symmetrical outline, which it retains to old age. 



Leaves. The fully grown leaves are often larger than those 

 of the type, darker green above, edges sometimes drooping, 

 width equal to or exceeding the length, 5-lobed, margin blunt- 

 toothed, wavy-toothed, or entire, the two lower lobes small, 

 often reduced to a curve in the outline, broad at the base, 

 which is usually heart-shaped; texture firm; the lengthening- 

 scales of the opening leaves, the young shoots, the petioles, 

 and the leaves themselves are covered with a downy to a 

 densely woolly pubescence. As the parts mature, the woolli- 

 ness usually disappears, except along the midrib and principal 

 veins, which become almost glabrous. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy throughout New England, pre- 

 ferring a moist, fertile, gravelly loam ; young trees are rather 

 more vigorous than those of the sugar maple, and easily 

 transplanted. Difficult to secure, for it is seldom offered for 

 sale or recognized by nurseries, although occasionally found 

 mixed with the sugar maple in nursery rows. 



Plate LXXIV. Acer Saccharum, var. nigrum. 

 1. Fruiting branch. 



