CHAPTER XLVIII: THE MAPLES 



Family Acerace.^ 



Genus ACER, Linn. 



Trees valuable for timber and ornament. Leaves simple 

 (except Negundo), opposite, palmately veined and lobed, decidu- 

 ous. Flowers inconspicuous, racemed or in corymbs. Fruits 

 paired, winged samaras. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



A. Leaves simple, palmately lobed. 



B. Bloom before the leaves in lateral clusters; fruit ripe in 

 May or June. 

 C. Flowers red; leaves shallowly lobed, serrate, pale 

 beneath. (A. rubrum) red or swamp maple 



CC. Flowers greenish yellow; leaves deeply 5-cleft, 

 silvery white beneath. 



(A. saccharinum) silver maple 

 BB. Bloom after the leaves, from terminal buds; fruit ripe 

 in autumn. 

 C. Petals present in flowers. 



D. Flowers in erect, compact racemes. 



{A. spicatum) mountain maple 

 DD. Flowers in loose, droopmg racemes. 



E. Leaves 8 to 12 inches across, deeply 5-lobed. 



(A. macrophyllum) broad-leaved maple 

 EE. Leaves 5 to 6 inches across, 3-lobed at apex; 

 bark stripped with white lines. 



{A. Pennsylvanicum) striped maple 

 DDD. Flowers in drooping terminal corymbs. 

 E. Leaves 7 to 9-lobed, circular. 



{A. circinaium) vine maple 

 EE. Leaves 3-lobed or divided. 



{A. glahrum) dwarf maple 

 CC. Petals wanting; flowers in corymbs. 

 D. Corymbs without stalks. 

 E. Leaves pale beneath. 



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