Handbook of Tkees of the Noktiiei{>- Statks and Canada. 333 



This beautiful tree when growing in the 

 forest attains the height of 100 or 120 ft. with 

 trunk 3-5 ft. in dianietor. When isolated from 

 other trees it forms an ovoid top with many 

 upright brandies whicli. however, after a time 

 gradually incline outward and form a rounded 

 or broad top. It thrives best in low bottom- 

 lands, subject to occasional inundation, in 

 company with various Willows, the Black Ash. 

 River Birch, Red and Black Maples, Swamp 

 White Oak, etc. In earlier days it lined the 

 banks of most of the navigable streams of the 

 interior of tlie eastern states, and early writers 

 tell us that in it lay a large part of the charm 

 of their picturesqueness. Its rapid growth 

 and handsome incised leaves, which show suc- 

 cessively their daric or white surfaces when 

 tluttcring in the wind, have long made it popu- 

 lar for ornamental planting. Several nursery 

 varieties have appeared. Sugar of excellent 

 quality is made from its sap. though it requires 

 more to make a pound than does that of the 

 Sugar ]Maple. 



Its wood is strong, ratlier hard, easily 

 worked, of very fine grain, and is used in the 

 manufacture of furniture, etc. A cu. ft., when 

 absolutely dry. weighs 32.84 lbs. Curly Maple 

 is occasionally produced by this tree. 2 



Lrnvrs deeply .')-lol)pd with narrow sinuses and 

 acuminate and irregularly coarsely dentate lobes, 

 truncate or heart-shaped at base, 5-7 in. long, 

 t'reon above, silvery white and often pubescent 

 tionoath ; pale yellow in autumn ; pedicels long, 

 slender and often red. Floircrs in very early 

 spring before the leaves, in dense sessile axillary 

 fascicles, greenish yellow : corolla none ; stamens 

 .*?-" : ovary pubescent. Fruit ripening in May, the 

 samaras large 1VL>-- in. long, falcate, divergent, 

 prominently veined. 



1. Syn. Acer dusycarpum Ehrh. 

 li. A. W., II, 26 and 26(1. 







