DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME COMMON WEEDS 



199 



regions. The sub-order, Sapindaceae, is largely tropical. 

 The maple (Acer) is commonly used for the manufacture 

 of furniture and for interior finishings, floorings, etc. The 

 most highly prized are the hard maples (Acer nigrum and 

 A. saccharum). Sugar maple is also derived from these 

 species. Curly maple is only a form of wood of these and 

 the A. macrophyllum of the Pacific coast is also much 

 prized for cabinet work, 

 especially when the cur- 

 ly maple wood is used. 



Balloon Vine (Cardio- 

 spermum Halicacabum, 

 L.). A delicate, smooth 

 or slightly hairy, climb- 

 ing or spreading herb 

 with alternate, petioled 

 leaves which have short- 

 stalked segments, ovate 

 or oblong, acute or acu- 

 minate and sharply 

 toothed ; flowers white 

 and somewhat irregular, 

 sepals four, having two 

 longer than the others, 

 and two upper petals 

 larger than two lower; 

 disk one-sided ; stamens eight, filaments unequal ; style 

 three-cleft, ovary three-celled; capsule inflated, three - 

 lobed; seeds nearly black, with aril or wing at the base. 

 The plant climbs by means of hooklike tendrils which 

 spring out from the flower clusters. Native in the south- 

 western states and frequently cultivated for its inflated 

 pods ; found in waste places and occasionally seen in bal- 

 last about seaports. 



Mallow Family (Malvaceae). Herbs, shrubs, or, in 

 tropical countries, trees with mucilaginous properties, 



Fig. 127. Balloon vine (Cardiosper- 

 mum Halicacabum). (Ada Hayden.) 



