

-^• 



ASH-LEAF MAPLE (Box Elder) 



{Acer negundo L.) 

 TTHE box elder is a fairly rapid growing tree, 

 found commonly throughout the northern and 

 middle parts of the State growing naturally along 

 stream banks and in cool ravines. It is a tree of 

 medium size, rarel}^ reaching over 24 inches in diame- 

 ter and 60 to 70 feet in height. It has been consid- 

 erably planted for shade because in good soil its 



growth is 

 BOX ELDER rapid. Its 



limbs and 

 b r anches, 

 h o w ever, 

 are very 

 fragile, 

 and the 

 tree as a 

 whole is 

 subject to 

 disease. It 

 is not 

 long -lived 

 or gener- 

 ally satis- 

 factory 



Twis. two-tbirds natural size. f O r any 

 Leaf, one-third natura Isize. p u. r DOSe. 



It is pro- 

 lific in reproduction but is largely destroyed by 

 grazing and cultivation. 



The bark on young branches is smooth and green 

 in color; on old trees it is thin, grayish to light 

 brown and deeply divided. 



The leaves are compound, with usually 3 leaflets 

 (rarely 5 or 7), opposite, smooth and lustrous, 

 green, and borne on a leaf stem or petiole 2 to 3 

 inches long. The leaflets are 2 to 4 inches long by 

 1 to 2 inches wide, making the whole leaf 5 to 8 

 inches in length. 



The seed is a samara, or key, winged similarly to 

 that of a sugar maple, but smaller. It ripens in 

 late summer or early fall, and so is like its clo»e 

 relatives, the red maple and silver maple. 



The wood is soft, light, Aveak, close-grained, and 

 decays rapidly in contact with heat and moisture. 

 It is used occasionally for fuel. 



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