﻿Trees of New York State 295 



ACERACEAE 



Acer saecliariini. var. iiignnn (Miehx. f.) Britt. [Acer nigrum ^lichx. f.] 



Black Maple 



Habit — Similar in habit to Sugar Maple and not distinguished in the trade, 

 a valuable timber species, becoming under optimum conditions SO-100 

 feet in height A\-ith a trunk 3-4 feet in diameter. In the open the crown 

 is ovoid, at length becoming broad and romid-topped. Under forest con- 

 ditions the bole is long and columnar, bearing aloft a shallow, flat-topped 

 crown. 



Leaves — Opposite, orbicular to broadly obovate, 3-5 inches across, cordate 

 at the base, palmately 3-veined and 3-lobed (rai'ely 5), the lobes acumi- 

 nate, entire or somewhat undulate, and separated by broad, rounded 

 sinuses. At maturity the leaves are rather thick, dull, dark green and 

 glabrous above, yellow-green and pubescent below, borne on rather stout, 

 pubescent petioles 2-5 inches long. 



Flower — Similar to those of Sugar Maple, but opening a few days later 

 than those of the species when the leaves are about one-third grown. 



Fruit — Similar to that of Sugar Majile and not to be distinguished from it. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather stout, lustrous or dull, orange-brown or 

 grayish brown, marked by conspicuous, oblong, gra^-ish white lenticels. 

 Terminal bud conical to ovate, grayish brown, hoary pubescent, about V^ 

 of an inch long. Lateral buds opposite, similar to the terminal bud but 

 smaller. Mature bark similar to tliat of Sugar ^laple and not to be 

 distinguished from it. 



Habitat — The^ Black ]\Iaple is said to prefer lower ground than the Sugar 

 Maple. In central New York it grows on upland sites, intermixed Avith 

 or in places wholly replacing the Sugar Maple. 



Range — Quebec westward to Soutli Dakota and Kansas, soutliward to north- 

 ern Georgia and Louisiana. Zones B. C, and D. 



Uses — A valuable timber species. Wood similar to that of Sugar Maple and 

 not distinguished in the trade. The trees are tapped indiscriminately 

 with those of Sugar Maple for their sugary sap. 



