212 XLII. ACERACEJS. Acer. 



mon vine. By cultivation it sports into endless varieties, differing in the form, 

 color, size, an^ flavor of the fruit, and in respect to the hardiness of its consti- 

 tution. In N. England its cultivation is chiefly confined to the garden and as a 

 dessert fruit ; but there are extensive vineyards in the Middle and Western 

 States, for the production of wine. The vine is propagated by cuttings. Va- 

 rieties without end may be raised from the seed, which will bear fruit the fourth 

 or fifth year. A vineyard, it is said, will continue to produce fruit for 200 years. 



2. AMPELOPSIS. Michx. 

 Gr. afiTTc'Xos, avine, 0^/tf, appearance; from its resemblance. 



Calyx entire ; petals 5, distinct, spreading ; ovary 2-celled, cells 

 2-ovuled : style very short ; berry 2-celled, cells 1 — 2-seeded. 



A. aUINdUEPOLIA. 



Lvs. quinate, digitate ; Ifts. oblong, acuminate, pcliolate, dentate, smooth. 

 — A vigorous climber, found wild in woods and thickets. It has long been cul- 

 tivated as a covering for walls, and is best known by the name of Woodbine. 

 By means of its radicating tendrils, it supports itself firmly upon trees, ascend- 

 ing to the height of 50f In the same manner it ascends and overspreads walls 

 and buildings. The large, quinate leaves constitute a luxmiant foliage of dark, 

 glossy green. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish, in dichotomous clusters. Ber- 

 ries dark blue, smaller than peas, acid. Jl. 



Order XLII. ACEPtACE^.— Maples. 



Trees or shrtths with opposite, usually simple and palmate-veined leaves. 

 Stipules 0. Fls. often polygamous, in axillary corymbs or racemes. 

 Ca/.— Sepals 5, rarely 4—9, more or less united, colored, imbricate in aestivation. 

 Cor.— Petals 5, rarely 4—9, hypogynous ; sometimes 0. 

 S/ff. hypo^ynous, 3— 12. usually 8. .4«f/zers introrse or versatile. 

 Ova. 2-lobed, compounded of 2 united carpels. 



Fr. a double samara with opposite wings, thickened at the lower edges. 

 Genera 3, species 60. Tne sap of several species of the Maple yields sugar by evaporation. 



Genera. 



Flowers mostly polygamous. Leaves simple Acer. 1 



Flowers dioecious. Leaves compound, pinnate. , . . . Negundo. 2 



1. ACER. Mcench. 

 Lat. acer, sharp, vigorous ; the ^voodwas anciently manufactured into weapons of war. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; corolla 5-petaled or ; stamens 8 ; styles 2 ; sama- 

 ras 2, winged, united at base, by abortion 1 -seeded. — Lvs. simjjlc. 

 § Flowers corymbose, <^c. Threes. 



1, A. RUBRUM. Red Maple. Swa/iap Maple. 



Lrs. palmately 5-lobed, cordate at base, unequally and incisely toothed, 

 the sinuses acute, glaucous beneath ; Jls. aggregate, about 5 together, on rather 

 long pedicels ; ova. smooth. — The red maple is a common tenant of low woods 

 and swamps throughout the Atlantic States. It is a tree somcM'hat above the 

 middle size. The trunk is covered with a smooth bark, marked with large, 

 white spots, becoming dark with age. In spring, the appearance of the tree is 

 remarkable for the deep crimson flowers with which it is thickly clothed. Each 

 bud produces a fascicle of about 5 flowers. Stamens much exserted. The fer- 

 tile flowers are succeeded by a red fruit, furni.shcd with a pair of wings resem- 

 bling tho.se of some insect. The wood is hard and compact, and is much used 

 in cabinet work, particularly that well-knoA^Ti and handsome variety called 

 curled maple. Mar. Apr. 



2. A. DASYCARPUM. Ehrh. (A. eriocarpum. M.r.) U^ife Maple. 

 Lvs. palmately 5-lobed, truncated at base, unequally and inci. sly toothed, 



with obtuse sinuses,\vhite and smooth beneath; fly. in crowded, simple umbels, 

 with short pedicels and downv ovaries. — This species much resembles the last, 

 but its leaves are larger, and "the winged fruit is also larger than that of the 

 red maple or of any of the following species. It is a tall tree, 50f in height, not 

 uncommon in the N. England forests. The flowers are of a yellowish green 



