THE MAPLE FAMILY. ACERACE^E 



THE maple family is not large, but many of its members are 

 distinguished. They are almost all trees, with a watery juice 

 rich in sugar, and broad, simple, palmately lobed leaves. There 

 are some exceptions to this rule, as a few are shrubs and one 

 division of the family has compound leaves. The family 

 comprises but a single genus, the well-known maples. 



I. THE MAPLES 

 Genus Acer 



"All hail to the broad-leaved maple 



In her fair and changeful dress, 

 A type of our youthful country 



In its pride and loveliness. 

 Whether in spring or summer, 



Or in the dreary fall, 

 'Mid nature's forest children, 



She's fairest of them all." 



No trees are so closely connected with Canadian traditions 

 and history as the maples. If we can be said to have a na- 

 tional tree, it is the maple, and the maple leaf has come to be 

 considered the emblem of Canada. There are a number of 

 maples, all noble trees with broad, palmately lobed leaves, and 

 just which one should be considered as furnishing the maple 

 leaf of Canada is a matter of some confusion. There seems 

 little doubt, however, that the tree which so impressed the 

 early settlers that it became closely associated with the growing 



186 



