174 WOOD AND FOREST. 



59 



RED MAPLE. 

 Acer rubrum Linnaeus. 



Acer, the classical Latin name; rubrum, refers to red flowers and 

 autumn leaves. 



Habitat. 



Leaf. 



Habitat: (See map) ; 

 best in lower Ohio valley. 



Characteristics of the 

 Tree: Height, 80'-120'; 

 diameter, 2'-4'; branches, 

 low; bark, dark gray, 

 shaggy, divided by long 

 ridges ; leaves, palmately 

 5 lobed, acute sinuses; 

 fruit, double samaras, 

 forming characteristic ma- 

 ple key. 



Appearance of Wood: 



Color, light reddish brown, 

 sap-wood, lighter; diffuse- 

 porous ; rings, obscure ; 

 grain, crooked; rays, nu- 

 merous, obscure. 



Physical Qualities : 



Weight, medium (30th in 

 this list), 38 Ibs, per cu. 

 ft.; sp. gr., 0.6178; strong 

 (36th in this list) ; elas- 

 tic (36th in this list) ; 

 hard (27th in this list) ; 



