ACERACEAE 



Boxelder. Ash -lea red Maple 



Acer negundo, L. [Negundo acer aides, Moench.] 



HABIT. A sturdy little tree 30-50 feet high, with a trunk 

 diameter of 1-2 feet. Trunk often divides near the ground into 

 several stout, wide-spreading branches, forming a broad, unsym- 

 metrical, open crown. 



LEAVES. Opposite, pinnately compound. Leaflets 3-5 in 

 number, 2-4 inches long, 1^-2^ inches broad; ovate or oval; 

 nearly entire, irregularly and remotely coarse-toothed above the 

 middle, or sometimes 3-lobed (often giving the leaflet a jagged 

 outline) ; apex acute, base variable; glabrous or somewhat pube- 

 scent at maturity, with prominent veins. Petioles slender, 2-3 

 inches long, the enlarged base leaving prominent crescent-shaped 

 scars partly surrounding the winter-buds. 



FLOWERS. April, before or with the leaves; dioecious; 

 small, yellow-green' ; the staminate in clusters on long, thread- 

 like, hairy pedicels; the pistillate in narrow, drooping racemes; 

 calyx hairy, 5-lobed; corolla o; stamens 4-6; ovary pubescent. 



FRUIT. Early summer, but hanging until late autumn or 

 early spring; narrow, flat, winged samaras, in pairs, clustered 

 in drooping, racemose clusters. 



WINTER-BUDS. Terminal bud ft-% inch long, acute, 

 inclosed in two dull red scales, often hoary or minutely pube- 

 scent; lateral buds obtuse, appressed. 



BARK. Twigs greenish to purple, glaucous; trunk pale 

 gray or light brown, deeply cleft into broad ridges. 



WOOD. Light, soft, close-grained, weak, creamy white, 

 with thick, hardly distinguishable sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION! Lower Peninsula as far north as Sag- 

 inaw Bay. 



HABITAT. Banks of streams and borders of swamps. 

 Prefers deep, moist soil. 



NOTES. Accomodates itself to almost any situation. 

 Easily transplanted. Much planted for shade and ornament. 

 Fast-growing, but short-lived. 



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