Handbook of Trees of the ISTortiikkx Statks A^•^ Canada. 333 



This beautiful tieo w lien ^'rowinpf in the 

 forest attains tlie height of 100 or 120 ft. with 

 trunk 3-5 ft. in dianielcr. Wlien isohited from 

 other trees it forms an ovoid top with many 

 upright branches which, however, after a time 

 ^'radually 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. 

 Hiver Birch, Red and Black Maples, Swamp 

 White Oak, etc. In earlier days it lined the 

 hanks of most of the navigable streams of the 

 interior of the 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 dark or white surfaces when 

 Muttering in the winil. have long made it popu- 

 lar for ornamental planting. Several nursery 

 A'arieties have appeared. Sugar of excellent 

 <|uality is niiule from its sap, though it requires 

 more to make a pound than does that of the 

 Sugar Alaple. 



Its wood is strong, rather 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 |)i(i(luced by this tree. 2 



Leaves deeply .".-lolx'd witli narrow sinuses and 

 aouminato and irregularly coarsely dentate lobes, 

 truncate or heart-shaped at ba.se, 5-7 In. long, 

 green above, silvery white and often pubescent 

 beneath ; pale yellow in autumn ; pedicels long, 

 slender and often red. Flowers in very early 

 spring before the leaves, in dense sessile axillary 

 fascicles, greenish yellow ; corolla none ; stamens 

 :V7 ; ovary pubescent. Fruit ripening in May, the 

 samaras largo 1%-- in- hmg. falcate, divergent, 

 prominently veined. 



1. Syn. ,4ccr dasycarpiim Ehrh. 

 -'. A. W.. II, 26 and 2Ga. 



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