MAPLE FAMILY. 



91 



cup-like. Petals none. Fruit (including the wing) 2-3 inches long, one of the carpels 

 usually abortive ; pedfcels of the fruit an inch long. Seeds large ; embryo nearly straight. 

 Banks of rivers : Maine to Georgia. Fl. April. Ft: May -June. 



Obs. This has been extensively introduced into our cities and vil- 

 lages, as an ornamental tree, and is often mistaken for the true Sugar 

 Maple. It appears, indeed, from the researches of Prof. A. GRAY, that 

 LINNAEUS established the A. saccharinum upon a specimen of this plant ; 

 but, as it was done under a misapprehension of its character, the name 

 has been very properly transferred, by all succeeding Botanists, to the 

 real sugar-producing species. The Silver Maple, however, is by no 

 means to be compared with the Sugar Maple, even as a shade tree, 

 and much less for its economical value. 



ff Petals 5. 



70 



5. A. m'brum, L. Leaves generally 3-lobed with the sinuses acute, 

 subcordate at base, the lobes acute, spreading, unequally incised- 

 dentate ; flowers aggregated on rather long pedicels ; ovary glabrous. 

 EED ACER. Eed Maple. Swamp Maple. 



Stem 40-60 or 80 feet high, and 1-2 feet or more in diameter, branched, the young 

 branches purplish. Leaves 2- 4 inches long ; petioles 1 or 2-5 inches long. Flowers ap- 

 pearing before the leaves, in fascicles of fives. Calyx petaloid, and with the petals bright 

 purple, or often yellowish-tawny. Fruit (including the wing) near an inch long. 



FIG. 68. A leaf of the Red Maple (Acer rubrum), with its winged key-fruit (samara.) 

 3. A staminate flower. 70. A pistillate flower, both enlarged. 



