SAPINDACE^. 231 



recurved branches, stigmatiferous on the inner side. Fruit of 

 2 samarre or winged nuts about the size of peas, united together ; 

 the wings distinct, membranous, projecting about 1^ to 1^ inch 

 beyond the nut, nearly straiglit on the back, along whicli run 

 parallel veins, of which one after the other turns off abruptly and 

 ramifies towards the inner, side, which is curved throughout. 

 Leaves dark green above, whitish beneath, and woolly along the 

 principal veins, especially when young. Peduncles, pedicels, inner 

 side of the sepals, filaments, and especially the young fruit, hairy. 



Sycamore, Great Ilaple. 



Freuch, Erable Sycamore. German, Weisser Ahorn. 



The first record of the Sycamore tree as cultivated in Britain is in Turner's 

 Herbal in 1551, and we still find it a favourite in all plantations, and around many of 

 our English homesteads. Ray speaks of it as very common in courtyards, avenues, and 

 churchyards in his time, but says it was objected to on account of the large number 

 of falling leaves which it scatters about in autumn. Gerarde, in 1597, does not men- 

 tion the Sycamore tree as being very common in England, but says : " The great 

 Maple is a stranger in England, only it groweth in the walkes and places of pleasure 

 of noblemen, where it especially is planted for the shadow sake, and under the name of 

 Sycamore tree." It is still in request for beautiful massive foliiige, which forms an almost 

 impenetrable shade against the heat of summer, and in a landscape is an attractive 

 object to the artist's eye, with its well-contra,sted masses of light. It grows very 

 rapidly, is easily transplanted, and does not injure the grass, which grows under its 

 shadow. Its bark has not the furrowed roughness of the oak ; but it has a seamed, 

 knotted, and gnarled appearance nearly as picturesque. In itself it is smooth, but it 

 jieels off in large flakes like the planes, leaving patches of diffei-eiit hues, seams and 

 cracks, which are very striking. In rural scenery its luxuriant foliage, of a bright green 

 colour, is very ornamental, and its praises have been sung by poets both ancient and 

 modern. We read of — 



" The sycamore capricious, mature. 

 Now green, now tawny, and ere Autumn yet 

 Have changed the wood in scarlet honours bright." 



The largest known tree is that at Eishopston, in Renfrewshire, which has grown 

 to GO feet in height and 20 feet in girth. This tree is known to have been planted 

 before the Reformation, and is supposed not to be less than 300 years old, yet it 

 has the apjiearance of being perfectly sound. According to Mordeath it was known 

 in Charles Il's time as " the big tree of Kippenross." It was once generally believed 

 that the Sycamore mentioned in Scripture was our present species the Great 

 Maple, but this is evidently an error, and the tree on to which Zaccheus climbed to see 

 " Christ pass on his way to Jerusalem " has been proved to have been the Ficus 

 sycamorus, a tree very common by the waysides of Judaja. The wood of the Sycamore 

 tree when young is white, soft, but very compact, and even in the grain — qualities 

 that recommend it to the tui'nei". Cabinet-makers, wheelwrights, musical instrument 

 makers, and makers of toys use this wood largely. The roots, which are often 

 beautifully veined, and the stumps where the branches have been cut off, are sought 

 after for inlaying, veneering, and curious cabinet work. According to M. Hartig, 



