COMMTmiCATIONS. 



209 



6. Acer dasycarpum, of Ehrhart. — Silver Maple, 



This species of Maple is found growing abundantly along the 

 Mississippi river, in this State, where it is cut with other kinds 



of wood to supply the numerous steamboats with fuel. It is 



distinguished from the 

 other species of maple by 

 the flowers being on short 

 pedicels, appearing before 

 the leaves, the small num- 

 ber of stamens (3 to 6) ; 

 the notches of the leaves 

 are rather acute, deeply cut 

 and toothed ; the leaves 

 downy beneath when 

 young, and of a bright sil- 

 very color ; fruit large, di- 

 vergent, of a greenish color, 

 and woolly in its young 

 state. 



The wood is soft and 

 possesses but little value 

 having very little strength 

 or durability. As an or- 

 RED MAPLE. namcutal tree, however, 



it possesses some good qualities ; among them we may mention 



the beautiful contrast between the deep green of the upper and 



silvery lower surface of the leaves. 



6. Acer rubrum, of LinncBus. — Bed Maple. 



This species of maple is too well known to need especial de- 

 scription here. It prefers low, damp situations, along the mar- 

 gins of rivers, &c., but flourishes very well in the higher lands. 

 The brilliant scarlet flowers are among the earliest to appear in 

 the spring, preceding the leaves, and covering the tree as with a 

 beautiful mantle. The young shoots are also red, contrasting 

 finely with the green leaves. It is, therefore, one of our mosc 



