ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BR1TANNICUM. 



large tree with numerous divergent slender branches. Canada to Florida. 

 Height in America 30 ft. to 80 ft. ; in England 30 ft. to 60 ft. Introduced 

 in 1656. Flowers small, dark rod, appearing a fortnight before the leaves; 

 March and April. Keys brown ; ripe in September. 

 Variety. 



A. r. 2 intermedium Lodd. seems intermediate between this species 

 and A. eriocarpum. 



In England distinguished at sight from A. eriocarpum by the leaves being 

 much less cut, and less white beneath, and by the tree being generally less vi- 

 gorous. The red-flowered maple, whether we regard the beauty of its flowers 

 and opening leaves in early spring, its red fruits in the beginning of summer, 

 or its red fol age in autumn, deserves to be considered one of the most orna- 

 mental of hardy trees. Contrary to the general character of the maples, 

 this species is said to thrive best in moist soil, which must, however, at the 

 same time, be rich ; and, for the tree to attain a large size, the situation ought 

 to be sheltered. In Britain it is chiefly propagated by layers ; but, on the 

 Continent, almost always by seeds, which ripen before midsummer, even 

 sooner than those of A. eriocarpum, and, if sown immediately, come up the 

 same season. The seeds, even when mixed with soil, do not ki-ep well ; and, 

 in general, but a small proportion of those sent home from America vegetate 

 in Europe 



15. A. MONSPESSULA'NUM L. The Montpelier Maple. 



Identification. Lin. Spec., 1497- ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 595. ; Don's Mill., I. p. 649. 



Synonymes. A. trilobum Mcench ; A. trifolium Duh. ; ^.trilobatum. Lam. ; E'rable de Montpelier, 



Fr ; Franzosischer Ahorn, Ger. ; Acero minore, Ital. 

 Engran'ngs. Schmidt Arb., 1. 1. 14. ; and Krause, 1. 101. ; the plate of this species in Arb. Brit., 



1 st odit., vol. v. ; our fig. 139. ; and fig. 161. of the leaves, of the natural size, in the plate forming 



p. 120. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves cordate, 3-lobed ; lobes almost entire> and equal. 

 Corymbs few-flowered, pendulous. Fruit smooth, with the wings hardly 

 diverging. A low tree. South of Europe. Height 15 ft- to 40ft. Intro- 

 duced in J 739 Flowers pale yellow ; May. Keys brown ; August. 



moribposeulanuni. 



In general aspect the tree resembles A. creticum, which has much shorter 

 footstalks, and coriaceous leaves. It also resembles A. campestre, which, 



