90 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



2. A. PLATANGI'DES, L. Juice milky ; leaves broadly heart-shaped, 5- 

 lobed, coarsely toothed ; flowers somewhat corymbose ; fruit divaricate, 

 smooth. 



PLATANUS-LIKE AOEK. Norway Maple. 



A large tree when full grown. Leaves 4-6 inches in length and rather wider than long 

 deep shining green ; petioles about as long as the leaves, when broken exuding a milky 

 juice. Flowers pule greenish-yellow, in loose terminal, somewhat pendulous corymbs. 

 Keys remarkably divaricate. 

 - Cultivated. Native of Europe. April. 



Obs. This tree has been but recently introduced ; yet it promises to 

 become one of our most desirable shade trees. Its foliage is remarkably 

 fine, and abundant, continuing green longer than most other species ; 

 and it is said that its milky juice prevents the ravages of insects, 

 ff Petals none. 



3. A. sacchari'num, L. Leaves broad, subcordate at base, 3-5- 

 lobed with the sinuses obtuse, the lobes acuminate, coarsely and spar- 

 ingly sinuate-dentate ; flowers apetalous, pendulous on long filiform, 

 villous, fasciculate pedicels ; fruit turgid, smooth. 



SACCHARINE ACER. Sugar Maple. 



Stem 50-80 feet or more in height, and 2-3 feet in diameter. Leaves 3-o inches long, 

 and generally rather wider than long, dark green above, paler beneath -petioles 2-4 

 inches long. Calyx pale greenish-yellow, truncate and cup-like, the limb fringed with 

 long hairs. Petals none. Fruit ovoid at base, about an inch long including the wing 

 slightly diverging. 



Rich woodlands : Canada to Georgia. Fl. April -May. Fr. Sept. 



06s. This is one of the most valuable and interesting of our native 

 trees, particularly in the forests of the North and West where its 

 sap, in early spring, yields an immense quantity of Sugar and Syrup. 

 The beautiful wood, known as Bird's-eye Maple so much admired in 

 cabinet work is obtained from this species ; and it is, moreover, rarely 

 surpassed, in any respect, as an ornamental shade tree. The Black 

 Sugar Maple (A. nigrum, Michx.) is regarded as only a variety of this ; 

 its leaves are usually somewhat larger and of a darker green, and of a 

 thicker and somewhat leathery texture. The wood of the Sugar Maple 

 is highly valued as fuel, ranking near hickory ; it also furnishes a fine 

 quality of charcoal. 

 ** Flowers in short erect clusters, from lateral leafless buds, preceding tlte 



leaves. 

 f Petals none. 



4. A. dasycar'pum, Ehrh. Leaves palmately and deeply 5-lobed with 

 the sinuses acute, the lobes unequally incised-dentate ; ovary densely 

 tomentose. 



HAIRY-FRUITED ACER. Silver-leaved Maple. White Maple. 



Stem 30 -60 feet high, and 2 feet or more (" in the Western States sometimes 8-9." 

 Ibrr. & Gr.) in diameter, much branched, the young branches virgate and straggling or 

 drooping. Leaves 3-6 inches long, bluish white or glaucous beneath ; petioles 2-5 incnes 

 long. Flowers in fascicles mostly of fives and sevens. Calyx pale green, truncate and 



