9-2 



AUBORETUM F.T FUUTICETUIM BRITANNICUM. 



large tree with numerous divergent slender branches. Canada to Florida. 

 Height in America 30 ft. to 80 ft. ; in England 30 ft. to 60 ft. Introduceil 

 in 1636. Flowers small, dark red, appearing a fortnight before the leaves; 

 March and April. Keys brown ; ripe in September. 



Variety. 



i- A. r. 2 intermedium Lodd. seems intermediate between this species 

 and A. eriocarpum. 



In England distinguished at sight from A. eriocarpum by the leaves being 

 much less cut, and less white beneath, and by the tree being generally less vi- 

 gorous. The red-flowered maple, whether we regard the beauty of its flowers 

 and opening leaves in early spring, its red fruits in the beginning of summer, 

 or its red foliage in autumn, deserves to be considered one of the most orna- 

 mental of hardy trees. Contrary to the general character of the maples, 

 this species is said to thrive best in moist soil, which must, however, at the 

 same lime, be rich ; and, for the tree to attain a large size, the situation ought 

 to be sheltered. In Britain it is chiefly propagated by layers ; but, on the 

 Continent, almost always by seeds, which ripen before midsummer, even 

 sooner than those of A. eriocarpum, and, if sown immediately, come up the 

 same season. The seeds, even when mixed with soil, do not keep well ; and, 

 in general, but a small proportion of those sent home from America vegetate 

 in Europe 



2 13. A. MONSPEssuLA^NUM L. The Montpelier Maple. 



Identification. Lin. Spec, 1497. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 595. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 649. 



Synoni/mes. A. trilohum Mosnch ; A. tr\fblmm Diih. ; ^.trilobatum /,(?>. ; E'rable de Montpelier, 



Fr ; Franzosischer Ahorn, Gfr. ; Aceroniinore, /<i. 

 Engravings. Schmidt Arb., 1. 1. 14. ; and Krause, t. 101. ; the plate of this species in Arb. Brit., 



Ist edit., vol. V. ; our fig. 139. ; and fig. 161. of the leayes, of the natural size, in the plate forming 



p. 120. 



Ispec. Char., c^c. Leaves cordate, 3-lobed ; lobes almost entire, and equal. 

 Corymbs few-flowered, pendulous. Fruit smooth, with the wings hardly 

 diverging. A low tree. South of Europe. Height 13 ft- to 40 ft. Intro- 

 duced hi 1739 Flowers pale yellow ; May. Keys brown ; August. 



139. .'l\.'cr mont.pct*'.ilaiHim- 



In general aspect the tree resembles A. creticum, which has nuich shorter 

 footstalks, and coriac. ous leaves. It also resembles A. campestre, which. 



