ACERACEAE 



Boxelder. Ash-leared Maple 



Acer negundo, Z,. [Negundo aceroides, Moench.] 



HABIT. A sturdy little tree 30-50 feet high, with a. trunk 

 diameter of 1-2 feet. Trunk often divides near the ground into 

 several stout, wide-spreading branches, forming a broad, unsym- 

 metrical, open crown. 



LEAVES. Opposite, pinnately compound. Leaflets 3-5 in 

 number, 2-4 inches long, 1^2-2^ inches broad; ovate or oval; 

 nearly entire, irregularly and remotely coarse-toothed above the 

 middle, or sometimes 3-lobed (often giving the leaflet a jagged 

 outline) ; apex acute, base variable; glabrous or somewhat pube- 

 scent at maturity, with prominent veins. Petioles slender, 2-3 

 inches long, the enlarged base leaving prominent crescent-shaped 

 scars partly surrounding the winter-buds. 



FLOWERS. April, before or with the leaves; dioecious; 

 small, yellow-green; the staminate in clusters on long, thread- 

 like, hairy pedicels ; the pistillate in narrow, drooping racemes ; 

 calyx hairy, 5-lobed; corolla o; stamens 4-6; ovary pubescent. 



FRUIT. Early summer, but hanging until late autumn or 

 early spring; narrow,, flat, winged samaras, in pairs, clustered 

 in drooping, racemose clusters. 



WINTER- BUDS. Terminal bud Y^A inch long, acute, 

 inclosed in two dull red scales, often hoary or minutely pube- 

 scent; lateral buds obtuse, appres'sed. 



BARK. Twigs greenish to purple, glaucous; trunk pale 

 gray or light brown, deeply cleft into broad ridges. 



WOOD. Light, soft, close-grained, weak, creamy white, 

 with thick, hardly distinguishable sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Lower Peninsula as far north as Sag- 

 inaw Bay. 



HABITAT. Banks of 'streams and borders of swamps. 

 Prefers deep, moist soil. 



NOTES. Accomodates itself to almost any situation. 

 Easily transplanted. Much planted for sh.ade and ornament. 

 Fast-growing, but short-lived. 



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