ACERACKAB 45 



FALSE-PLATANUS ACEE. Sycamore. Greater Maple. 



A large tree, when full grown. Leaves 4 to 6 inches long, on petioles about the 

 same length. Racemes ahout 6 inches long; rachis and filaments hairy ; flowers 

 yellowish-green, the sepals and petals nearly alike; fruit smooth. 

 Hub. Streets, and yards. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. 



Obs. This has been introduced, latterly, as an ornamental shade 

 tree ; but I consider our own Sugar Maple, and the Norway Maple, 

 as decidedly preferable, notwithstanding COWPER'S lines: 



" nor unnoted pass 



The Sycamore, capricious in attire, 



Now green, now tawny, and, ere autumn yet 



Have chang'd the woods, in scarlet honors bright." 



Both this and the Plane tree (Platanus), are vulgarly called Syca- 

 more, in our language ; but ivhy, is not apparent. The true "Syca- 

 more" (perhaps the Tree which ZACCIIEUS climbed) is a species 

 of Fig-tree (Ficus Sycomorus, L;). 



jj. A. pLATANofcES, L. Lactescent ; leaves broadly cordate, 5- 

 lobed, coarsely dentate ; flowers somewhat corymbose ; fruit divari- 

 cate, smooth. 

 PLATANUS-LIKE ACER. Norway Maple. 



A large tree, when full grown. Leaves 4 to 6 inches in length, and rather wider 

 than long, deep shining green ; petioles about as long as the leaves, when broken 

 exsuding a milky juice! Flowers pale greenish-yellow, in loose, terminal, and 

 somewhat pendulous corymbs. Samaras remarkably divaricate, glabrous. 

 Hob. Streets, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. ' f \ ' 



Obs. This tree has been but recently introduced ; yet it promises 

 to become one of our most desirable shade trees. Its foliage is re- 

 markably fine, and abundant, continuing gre.en longer than most 

 other species ; and it is' said that its milky juice prevents the rav- 

 ages of insects. 



* * Petals none. 



3. A. sac c* liar i nil in, Wangenh. Leaves broad, palmately 3- 

 to 5-lobed, the lobes acuminate, coarsely sinuate-dentate; flowers 

 pendulous on long villous fasciculate pedicels ; fruit slightly diverg- 

 ing, turgid, smooth. 

 SACCHARINE ACER. Sugar Maple. 



Stem 60 to 80 feet, or more, in height. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, and about as 

 wide as long, becoming golden-yellow in autumn ; petioles 2 to 6 or 8 inches in 

 length. Flowers pale greenish-yellow, truncate and cup-like, the border fringed 

 with long hairs. Fruit ovoid at base, nearly parallel, rather short. 

 Hob. Rich woodlands; along streams: rare. Fl. April. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This is one of the most valuable and interesting of our rat-' 

 tive forest trees, especially in the North and West whercits sap, 

 in early spring, yields an immense quantity of Sugar and Syrup. 

 The beautiful wood, known as Bird's-eye Maple so much admired 

 in cabinet work is believed to be aiforded by this species. The 

 tree is also much cultivated, and deservedly admired, as an orna- 

 mental shade tree. The A. nigrum, of MX. called Black Maple, seems 

 now to be regarded as a mere variety of the A. saccharinum. . Its 

 leaves, however, are usually larger and of a darker green, thicker, 

 and somewhat coriaceous in texture. It makes even a finer shade 



