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MOUNTAIN MAPLE. 

 Acer spicatum, Lambert. 



FORM A shrub or small tree sometimes attaining height of 35 ft. with a diameter of 11 

 inches. Usually a shrub growing in clumps on rocky soil. Trunk usually short and bears 

 rather straight, slender and upright branches. 



BARK Thin, rather smooth, brown or grayish-brown mottled with dingy-gray blotches. 



TWIGS Slightly hairy, at first reddish-puvple on exposed side and yellowish-green on 

 shaded side, later bright red and then changing to grayish-brown, covered with few scattered 

 lenticels; contain brown pith, and are encircled by 2 or 3 dark rings formed by the scars of 

 fallen bud-scales. 



BUDS Opposite, short-stalked, rather small, about 1 of an inch long including stalk; 

 terminal bud larger and more acute-pointed than lateral appressed buds; one pair or sometimes 

 t\v<> pairs of more or less hairy, grayish or greenish scales visible. 



LEAVES Opposite, simple, 3-5-lobed, coarsely serrate on margin, cordate at base, some- 

 what hairy on lower surface. Petioles long, slender, and enlarged at base. 



LEAF-SCARS Opposite, V-shaped, hollow, with 3 bundle-scars, and nearly encircle stem. 



FLOWERS Appear about June after the leaves are full grown, in erect terminal racemes. 

 Staminate flowers occur usually at the top and the pistillate at the base of the raceme. 



FRUIT Matures in September in drooping racemes; wings of the keys somewhat divergent, 

 about of an inch long, the seed-bearing part strongly striated. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; soft, close-grained, light to reddish-brown with wide zone of light 

 sapwood. Seldom used commercially. Weighs 33.22 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Mountain Maple is essentially a shrubby spe- 

 cies growing in small clumps, and can be distinguished from most species of M;i] 1<- by its 

 stalked, few-scaled winter buds, erect raceme of flowers, hairy -purplish ,to greenish twigs, 

 and simple, 3-5 lobed coarsely serrate leaves. It differs from the closely related Striped Maple 

 in the absence of light-striped bark and brown pubescence on the lower sides of the leaves, 

 and in the presence of pubescence on the branches, and smaller often gaping l>uds. 



RANGE Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Michigan, Pennsylvania, and along the 

 mountains to Georgia. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found locally in all parts of the State. Rather com- 

 mon in the mountainous parts. 



HABITAT It prefers moist rocky hillsides. Commonly found bordering ravines. It de- 

 mands the shade of other species. Very thrifty on the moist slopes and tops of the southern 

 Appalachian Mountains. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES It is of practically no commercial imi ortam-o as a 

 timber tree, but is valuable as a soil protector on rock slopes where a protection forest is 

 desirable. This species is planted very extensively for ornamental purposes. 



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