Handbook of Treks of 



E ISToKTiiKitN States axd Canada. 



Tlie Red Maple sonietinios attains the heiglit 

 of 100 ft. or more, when growing in the forest, 

 with a trunk 3 or 4 ft. in diameter, and when 

 growing away from tlie influence of other trees 

 develops an oval or rounded top. It inhabits 

 chiefly bottom-lands and the banks of streams 

 and swamps in company in the north with the 

 Black and Red Ash, Arbor Vitae, Hornbeam. 

 Tamarack, etc., and in places forms almost ex- 

 clusive forests. It is one of the first trees to 

 show its autumnal colors of brilliant scarlet 

 ;>nd is then a very conspicuous and beautiful 

 object. The swelling of its buds in late winter 

 is one of the first evidences of approaching 

 spring, and its early flowers open and offer 

 their abundant nectar as early as it is warm 

 enough for the bees to visit them. Even before 

 the leaves appear in southern regions the tree 

 is gorgeous Avith its crimson full-grown sa- 

 maras, though in northern regions they do 

 not attain full size until after the leaves ap- 

 pear. 



The wood is extensively used in manufacture 

 of furniture, a cu. ft. when absolutely dry 

 weighing 38.50 lbs., and a considerable portion 

 of the Curly INIaple of commerce comes from 

 this tree.i Maple sugar is also made from its 

 sap though as the sap is not as sweet as that 

 of the Sugar Maple it requires more to make 

 a pound of sugar. 



Leaves 2-6 in. long, .■J-.'i-lohcd. with sliallow afuti" 

 sinuse.s and irregularly doubly serrate acute or 

 acuminate Iol)es, truncate or subcordate at base, 

 pubescent at first, at maturity glabrous green 

 above, whitish and mostly glabrous beneath, bright 

 scarlet in autumn ; petioles slender. Flnirers in 

 earliest spring before the leaves, scarlet or yellow- 

 tinted, in lateral fascicles; petals ohlong-liucMr ; 

 ovary glabrous. Fruit on drooping pedicels 2-4 

 in. long, divergent, glabrous, nearly 1 in. long. 



Var. tridens Wood- is a form in coast region 

 from N. .T. to Fla. and Tex., having leaves mostly 

 smaller, more obovate, narrow and cuneate or 

 rounded at base, ."^-lobed (or lateral lobes sonn'- 

 (imcs suppressed) dark green above, much liirbicr 

 and glaucous beneath, thickish ; fruit smaller, 

 sometimes yellowish. 



1. A. W., Ill, 53. 



2, Syn. A. Carolinian inn Walt. 



