ACERACEAE 



Norway Maple 



Acer platanoides, L. 



HABIT. A tall, handsome tree, with a height of 40-60 feet, 

 and a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet, having a round, spreading 

 crown of stout branches, resembling A. saccharum. Twigs 

 coarse. 



LEAVES. Opposite, simple, 5-7 inches broad, and almost 

 as long; thin; 5-7-lobed at maturity, lobes remotely coarse- 

 toothed with the teeth drawn out into filamentous points, sepa- 

 rated by rounded, scallop-like sinuses; glabrous, bright green 

 both sides, turning pale yellow in autumn ; petioles long, slender, 

 exuding a milky juice when cut. 



FLOWERS. May-June, before or with the leaves; dioec- 

 ious; large, yellow-green, in erect, short, flat racemes; sepals 5; 

 petals 5 ; stamens 8. 



FRUIT. Ripens in autumn and germinates the following 

 spring; pendent on long stalks; large, glabrous, paired samaras, 

 with wings 2 inches long, diverging by n'early 180. 



WINTER-BUDS. Yellow-green, red or dull red-brown; 

 terminal bud about % inch long, broad, short-stalked, with bud- 

 scales strongly keeled; lateral bud's small, appressed; buds exud- 

 ing a milky juice when cut. 



BARK. Twigs lustrous, light brown to greenish; trunk 

 dark gray, becpming closely fissured, not scaly. 



WOO-D. Moderately heavy, hard, close-grained, whitish or 

 brownish, with white sapwood. 



NOTES. Exotic from Europe. Extensively planted in 

 cities for its abundant shade. The roots strike deep and spread 

 laterally, enabling the tree to hold its own in a city environment. 

 It holds its leaves two weeks longer in autumn than do our 

 native maples. A rapid grower. 



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