THE MAPLES. 



205 



120 feet, but commonly it does not exceed 50 feet. 



Its wood is soft, white, and of little value. 



Red or Swamp Maple. The red or swamp maple, a tree 



Acer rubrvm. common in swamps and wet woods, 

 rarely attains a height of over 50 

 feet in the North, but sometimes 

 measures 80 to 120 feet in the 

 South. It may be distinguished 

 by its reddish branches ; the twigs 

 of very young trees are bright, 

 dark red.* The leaf, as I have al- 

 ready said, is characterized by three 

 divisions, although one may fre- 

 quently find specimens with the five 

 points distinctly defined. The com- 

 monest type of leaf will be seen in the drawing 

 marked Type A. 



I conclude also to give another common type 

 which may frequently be seen in very young trees ; 

 this attenuated outline is confusingly near that of the 

 mountain maple's leaf ; but in presenting this type I 

 do so to call attention to the fact that Nature does 

 not follow cast-iron rules, however we mistake the 

 botanist's descriptions as such. What we choose to 



Red Maple. 

 Type A. 



* The branchlets of the maples are apt to change color at dif- 

 ferent seasons : the red maple is brightest red during the winter ; 

 in summer the twigs become brown red. 



