Acer (Maple) 



(7) 



Aceratium 



ACER (MAPLE). 



Description. A genus of trees (unl. Sapindaec:e"). 

 principally deciduous, numbering about fifty species, 

 nearly all hardy in our climate. They are valued for 

 plantations, shrubberies, or ornamental planting. 

 The flowers are generally greenish in colour, and the 

 trees are prized for their foliage, which is usually 

 very handsome. For garden purposes the varieties 

 of japonicum, when small, and of palmatum, are 

 the most useful, either for the grounds or in pots 

 for decorative effect. The forms of the latter 

 are very varied and beautiful. Sugar is obtained 

 from several of the North American Maples. 



Propagation. By layers, grafting, budding, seeds, 

 and cuttings of some species. Seeds of the scarcer 

 species should be sown under glass. 



Soil. A good, well-drained loam is suitable for 

 the greater number of the Acers, but a few. such as 

 rubrum, prefer a marshy soil. 



Other Cultural Points. Japonicum and palma- 

 tum, when grown in the open, should be sheltered 

 from cold winds ; in some districts where late 

 frosts occur it may be necessary to protect with a 

 covering of some kind. Negundo should have a 

 sheltered position. When in pots they ought to 

 receive an occasional shift or have fresh soil added. 

 They should also be hardened off and placed out- 

 side to ripen their wood before forcing anew. 



Principal Species : 



campestro, Common Maple, 20', small leaves, 

 with five toothed divisions (lobes). Campestre 

 austriacum (*//. austriacum) is a fine tree 

 with larger leaves. There are several others, in- 

 cluding both silver and golden margined forms. 



dasycarpum, Silver Maple, 40', leaves five lobed ; 

 bark llaky (xi/iis. eriocarpum, tomentosum, virgin- 

 ianum, and saccharinum). 



glahrum, liocky .Mountain Maple, 30', leaves three 

 to live lobed, light grn. (nyns. Douglasii and tri- 

 partitmn). 



japonicum, 20', red. leaves many lobed. There 

 are several varieties of this valuable Maple, among 

 them being macrophylhim (of gardens) and viti- 

 folinm. 



macrophylhim. (ill', leaves hand shaped (palmate). 

 A handsome tree. 



Negundo, 40'. This tree is best known by its 

 form with silver variegated leaves, which is very 

 beautiful in pots or in the open. That with yellow 

 variegation is not so pretty, but rather hardier 

 (gym. Negundo aceroides and N. fraxinifolium). 



opulifolium, s', leaves heart shaped, five lobed. 

 A neat Maple (syn*. Opalus, italicum, italum, and 

 rotundifolium). 



palmntimi, 2u' leaves palmately divided into 

 from live to seven toothed lobes (syn. polymorphum). 

 The popular Japanese Maple, now largely used for 

 the decoration of the garden or for growing in 

 pots for the conservatory or house. There are a 

 number of forms which have for convenience been 

 included in the following groups : Palmatum, 

 Septemlobmn, and Dissectum. These have a 

 number of synonyms : all are beautiful. 



pictiim, is', leaves with five to seven entire lobes. 

 There are three useful varieties, named marmora- 

 tiun. ruhriiiu. and variegatum. 



platanoidrs. Norway Maple, 50', leaves five 

 loln-d. heart shaped, with acute teeth. A well- 



.lrin-us. Milnt. The iiimt Inntblcsome is tel- 

 iarittK, fur tehiclt *<< li'-d Spider. 



known ornamental tree. Of the varieties, aureo- 

 variegatum, variegatum, multicolor, Schwedleri, aud 

 laciniaturn may be named. 



Pseudo-platanus, Sycamore, 60'. A very hardy, 

 well-known tree. Among its vars. are albo- 

 variegatum, flavo-variegatum, purpureum,and Leo- 

 poldii. 



rubrum, Scarlet Maple, leaves heart shaped, five 

 lobed, and toothed. Useful for moist places. Two 

 vars., Drumniondn and sanguineum, are also 

 grown. 



Other Species : 



circinatum, 6'. 



cissifolium, 10' (*i/. Ne- bridum). 



gundo cissifolium, X. peunsylvanicmn,20'(s# 



nikoense). 

 crata-gifolium, 10'. 

 creticum, 4'. 

 diabolicum (syti. pul- 



chrum). 

 Heldreichi. 

 heterophyllum, 4' (si/ns. 



micropnyllum, obtusi- 



folium, aud orientale). 

 hyrcanum (xyns. caucasi- 



obtusatum (syn. hy- 



cum, ibericum, and ita- 

 lum var., hyrcanum). 



iusigne (syn. velutiuum). 



mouspessulauum, 20' (syii. 

 heterophyllum, etc.). 



iiikoense (syn. Neguudo 

 nikoense). 



canadeuse, hybridum, 



aud striatum). 

 rufinerve, and var. albo- 



limbatum. 

 saecharinum, 40' (xyns. 



barbatum, saccharo- 



phorum, and Sac- 



charum). 

 spicatum, 18', My. (tyns. 



montauum and parvi- 



floruni). 

 tataricum, 20' (syti. cordi- 



folium). Var. Ginnala 



is more elegant. 

 VauVolxemii (sy.Traut- 



vetteri). 



,, : n. S. l-'ili, r.'liiilutrgh. 



A SMALL SPRAY OF ACER NEGUNDO VARIEGATA. 



ACERAS. 



Terrestrial Orchids (orrf.Orchidaceie). Propagated 

 by division of the tubers, and liking chalky loam. 

 Anthrophora (the Green Man Orchis), 1', June, 

 flowers greenish, on tall spikes, is found only on dry 



rhalky pastures in S.E. Britain. 



ACERATIUM. 



A stove evergreen tree, allied to E!a?ocarpus and 



