176 



WOOD AND FOREST. 



Habitat. 



60 



HARD MAPLE. SUGAR MAPLE. EOCK MAPLE. 



Acer saccharum Marshall. 

 Acer, the classical Latin name; saccharum, refers to sweet sap. 



Habitat: (See map) ; 

 best in regions of Great 

 Lakes. 



Characteristics of the 

 Tree: Height, 100'-120'; 

 diameter, l^'-S', even 4'; 

 often trees in forest are 

 without branches for 60'- 

 70' from ground, in the 

 open, large impressive 

 tree; bark, gray brown, 

 thick, deep, longitudinal 

 fissures, hard and rough; 

 leaves, opposite, 3 to 5 

 lobed, scarlet and yellow 

 in autumn; fruit, double, 

 slightly divergent samaras. 



Appearance of Wood: 



Color, light brown tinged 

 with red ; diffuse-porous 

 rings, close but distinct; 

 grain, crooked, fine, close, 

 polishes well; rays, fine 

 but conspicuous. 



Physical Qualities : 

 Heavy (19th in this list). 



Leaf. 



