202 TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 



three well-cut lobes. The peculiar vertical marking of the 

 trunk is also a beautiful and characteristic feature and makes 

 it easy for us to retain our friendship with the tree during the 

 winter. The striped maple is a shrinking character and loves 

 to hide itself under the shade of larger trees. It frequently 

 occurs as a shrub. In fact in New England it forms an 

 immense amount of undergrowth. To it are sometimes 

 attached the names of false, or striped, dogwood. Its name of 

 moosewood was bestowed on it because in early spring deer 

 browse on the young shoots, that they may enjoy its sugar-like 

 sap. 



riOUNTAIN MAPLE. (Plate CVJ.) 

 Acer spicatum. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Maple. Slender x tapering. xi-Tp/eet. New Foundland westward May, June. 



and southward to N. 

 Carolina and Tenn. 



Bark ; brown or greenish ; not striped. Leaves; three to five inches long; 

 simple ; opposite ; rounded in outline, with three or rarely five lobes, pointed 

 at the apex and coarsely serrate. Above glabrous ; pubescent underneath 

 when young ; soft ; flexible. Flowers : greenish yellow ; growing in erect, 

 dense clusters and unfolding after the leaves. Petals; linear; spatulate. 

 Samaras ; growing in clusters from nine to ten inches long, the wings diverg- 

 ing at right angles. 



It is always a source of wonderment why Acer spicatum re- 

 mains so persistently under the shade of other trees. It could 

 well defy the full light of day that might fall 

 upon it in an open place, for it is very beauti- 

 ful. At the north it rarely occurs as other 

 *-* than a tall shrub and clings to the rich woods 



s^w^my^ * 



&%z/a3tZ& or crows bv well-shaded roadsides. 





grows by well-shaded roadsides. In the 



coloured illustration the delicate samaras of 



&^JftiL$jjK^ tne mountain maple are seen wearing their 



\ ^ fresh, green tint of youth. Later, in the 



JL autumn, they turn to brown. The foliage then 



Acer spicatum. becomes a brilliant red or a clear, deep orange. 



It is to the maples, we should remember, that we owe the 



