CHAP. I.] ACERINEiE. 315 



is called M. glabra, and its leaves are without 

 stings. In Hiptage, another genus of this 

 order, four of the petals of the flowers are 

 white, and one yellow ; and in Banisteria, the 

 species are generally climbing shrubs, always 

 with yellow flowers. Some of the species of 

 Banisteria are occasionally found in stoves in 

 this country, where their beautiful feathery 

 yellow flowers have very much the appearance 

 of those of the Canary bird flower (Tropceolum 

 peregrinum). 



ORDER XLIV.— ACERINE^.— THE MAPLE TRIBE. 



The common Maple {Acer campestre) and 

 the Sycamore {A. Pseudo-Platanus) are the 

 only plants belonging to this order, that are 

 natives of Britain ; though so many kinds of 

 ornamental Acers are now found in our parks 

 and pleasure-grounds. Few trees are indeed 

 more deserving of culture than the American 

 Maples, both for their beauty in early spring, 

 and for the rich shades of yellow and brown 

 which their leaves assume in autumn. The 

 Maple tribe is a very small one ; it consists 

 indeed of only the genera Acer and Negundo, 

 and an obscure Nepal genus, of which there are 

 no plants in Britain. Of all the Acers, one of 

 the handsomest is the Sycamore tree {A. 



