Acer. ACERACEiE. 135 



» Flowers in racemes terminating the leafy brancAes, appearing after the leaves have expanded. 



1. Acer Pennsylvanicum, Linn. Moose-wood. Striped Maple. 



Leaves pubescent underneath, finely and acutely doubly serrate, 3-lobed at the extremity ; 

 lobes with a slender serrate acumination ; racemes simple, drooping ; (flowers large;) petals 

 obovate ; fruit smooth, with large diverging wings. — Michx.Ji. 2. p. 252 ; Ell. sJc. l.p. 451 ; 

 Twr. fl. I. p. 397; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. \. p. Ill ; Ton: ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 246. A. 

 striatum, Lam. diet. 2. p. 381 ; Michx. f. sylv. 1. <. 45 ; Pers. syn. 1. p. 417 ; DC. prodr. 

 1. p. 593. A. Canadense, Duham. arh. 1. t. 12 ; Marsh, arbust. p. 4. 



A shrub (or small tree), seldom exceeding 20 or 25 feet high ; the bark smooth, greenish, 

 and marked with dark stripes. Leaves 3-6 inches in diameter, more or less cordate at the 

 base. Flowers larger than in any of the following species, yellowish-green. Calyx 5-parted ; 

 segments linear lanceolate. Petals one-third longer than the calyx. Styles united nearly to 

 the summit : stigmas linear, recurved. Carpels about an inch long. 



In woods, common in those of beech ; frequent on mountains ; not found south of the 

 Highlands. Yields a sweet sap almost equal to tliat of the Sugar Maple, but in smaller 

 quantities {Dr. Knieskern). 



2. Acer spicatum, Lam. Mountain Maple. 



Leaves pubescent underneath, somewhat cordate, coarsely serrate, 3- (or somewhat 5-) 

 lobed, the lobes acuminate ; racemes erect, slightly compound ; petals linear-spatulate ; fruit 

 nearly smooth, with diverging wings. — Lam. diet. 2. p. 381 ; DC. prodr. I. p. 593; Torr. 

 <^- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 246. A. montanum, Ait. Kew. 3. p. 435 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 253, and 

 f. sylv. 1. t. 45 ; Piirsh, fl. 1. p. 267 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 452 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 398 ; Bigel. Jl. 

 Bost. p. 379; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p 111. A. Pennsylvanicum, Du Rot, Jiarbk. t. 2 ; 

 Wang. Amer. t. 12. /. 3Q. 



A shrub 6 - 15 feet high. Leaves 2 -2i inches wide ; the .acumination of the lobes mostly 

 entire, somewhat rugose when old. Racemes about 2 inches long, often simple. Calyx hairy, 

 the segments oblong. Petals very narrow, three times as long as the calyx, greenish. Sta- 

 mens 6-8. Styles united to the summit : stigmas small, recurved. Fruit usually reddish 

 or purple when ripe ; the wings obovate, spreading to an obtuse angle. 



Rocky hills and banks of small streams ; usually growing in clumps. May - June. 



»» FUrwers in nearly sessile umbcl-Hlce corymbs, iriih very long filiform pedicels, appearing during the evoUUion of the leaves; 

 the fertile corymis terminating the branches ; the infertile from lateral leafless buds. 



3. Acer saccharinum, Linn. i . ■ .. Sugar Maple. Hard Maple. 



Leaves truncate and somewhat cordate at the base, whitish and minutely pubescent or 

 smooth underneath, 3 - 5-lobed, with the sinuses obtuse; lobes with a slender acumination. 



