The Trees of Vermont KIl 



THE MAPLES 



The maple family is a large one including nearly seventy species. 

 Ten of these occur in the United States, and seven are found in Ver- 

 mont. In many respects they form the most characteristic feature of 

 our forest flora, and were Vermonters to select a state tree, popular 

 choice certainly would be unanimous for the sugar maple. 



The maples are distinguished easily from all other trees by their 

 peculiar winged or "key" fruit. The leaves of all except the ash- 

 leaved maple also are so similar as to form a good family character. 



Two of the seven native species are as frequently shrubby as they 

 are tree-like both in size and habit of growth, but all are included in 

 this bulletin. By appealing to the size of the tree and characters of 

 the leaves it is possible to distinguish the species. 



Introduced species. — The Norway maple is a European species 

 frequently used as a street shade tree farther south, and occasionally 

 planted in Vermont. It most closely resembles the sugar maple among 

 our native species but is easily distinguished by its broader and lower 

 crown, larger leaves and larger, more divergent key-fruits. 



Numerous horticultural varieties of the silver maple have been in- 

 troduced in recent years, especially from Japan. These include very 

 deeply cut-leaved forms, and also one with drooping branches. Their 

 relationship to the native species is usually recognizable however. 



The horse-chestnuts and buckeyes are closely related to the maples, 

 although some authorities place them in a separate family. Of these 

 the comm'on horse-chestnut (Aesculits hippocastanmn) is very com- 

 monly cultivated. It forms a large, clean, symmetrical tree, with rich 

 foliage and showy blossoms. The buckeyes of the south and west are 

 occasionally planted. 



