THE NORWAY MAPLE 



A MONG the shade trees which have been introduced into America from Europe 

 /-\ the Norway Maple easily stands in the front rank. It is a thrifty, hardy species, 

 -A- J^ able to survive many of the dangers which beset a city shade tree. It has thick, 

 firm leaves of attractive shape and color, which remain upon the trees considerably later 

 than do those of the native Maples. In early spring the flowers render the tree conspicuous 

 and attractive, and throughout the season the developing fruits add a decided charm to 

 the foliage. 



In general outline the leaves of the Norway Maple resemble those of the Sugar 

 Maple, although they may easily be distinguished by the fact that the basal lobes of the 

 former extend much further out than do those of the latter. This fact gives to the main 

 part of the blade a characteristic rectangular appearance which helps in its recognition. 

 A more certain test for the novice, however, is to break off a petiole and if there exudes from 

 the broken ends a milky sap it is surely the Norway Maple. The blossoms of the Norway 

 Maple are very different from those of any other species. They appear just before or at 

 the time of the development of the leaves, in short corymbose clusters of a yellow-green 

 color that render a well-developed tree one of the most conspicuous objects in a spring 

 landscape. The flowers are commonly monoecious and are particularly interesting on 

 account of the large nectar disc at the base of each blossom. After the petals have dropped 

 the key-fruits slowly mature, increasing rather rapidly in size during the middle or last of 

 June, by which time they have generally reached their full length, although the seed does 

 not fully ripen until late in summer or early in autumn. Many of the key-fruits remain 

 upon the trees until after the leaves drop off. 



These key-fruits of the Norway Maple are larger a.nd more beautiful in form than 

 those of any of the native species. They are united at a very wide angle so that the general 

 effect is horizontal, and they have a grace of outline which is exceedingly attractive. It 

 would be worth while to plant a tree of this species just for the sake of seeing every year 

 these key-fruits during the long months of their development. 



The bark of the mature tree is dark gray in color and thickly marked with narrow 

 vertical ridges having rather deep furrows between them. The outer bark clings closely 

 to the inner, and the general effect is quite characteristic. The tree grows native over a 

 large part of Europe and is offered very generally for sale by American nurserymen. 



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