210 
the year, before they put out their leaves. There isa 
good reason for this, which I will tell you by and by. 
One of the early trees to flower is the swamp 
maple. In March or April its bright red blossoms 
tinge the wet woods with warm color. Sometimes 
the snow lies thick on the ground at this season, and 
the little red flower clusters fall, and look wonder- 
fully pretty against the smooth white sheet 
which is drawn beneath the trees. 
eee At the same season, in our city parks and 
streets, sharp eyes will discover the yellowish 
blossoms of the silver maple. Both of these trees 
flower before they leaf. 
The building plan used by maple flowers is 
rather confusing. In one flower you will find 
both calyx and corolla, but not in another. One Ne 
blossom will have both stamens and 
pistils, another will have no pistils. 
Fig. 202 shows you a blossom from 
the sugar maple. It has stamens, but no 
pistils. Next you see what was once a flower 
Fic. 204 containing both stamens and pistils (Fig. 203). 
The withered stamens can still be seen; and the 
pistil is turning into the well-known maple key. 
The great elms also put out their flowers be- 
fore their leaves. Here you see a flower clus- 
ter from the white elm (Fig. 204). Fig. 205 
shows you one of these little flowers enlarged; 
and in Fig. 206 you have the blossom cut open Fic. 205 
so as to display its pistil, which grows into the winged 
fruit you saw on p. 62. 
