Tras of X( ir York State 2!)!> 



ACKRACEAE 



Acer nihrimi L. 



Red Maple, Swamp Maple 



Habit — Geiierallv :i iiieiliuni-sized tree 40-.")0 feet in lieight with a truuk 

 diameter of 1-2 feet, uiiiler favorable conditions occasionally becoming 

 100 feet tall with a trunk 4 feet in diameter. In the open the bole is 

 usually G-10 feet long and branches low down into stout, spreading, 

 upriglit .and horizontal branches to form a compact, narrow, oblong or 

 obovoid head. Under forest conditions the bole is much longer and bears 

 a restricted crown. 



Leaves — Opjiosite. orbic-ular or obovate, 2-6 inches long, truncate or .sub- 

 cordate at the base^ palmately S-.l-nerved and lobed, the lobes acute or 

 acuminate, irregularly doubly serrate and separated by shallow, acute 

 sinuses. At maturity the leaves are light green and glabrous above, pale 

 greenish white and glabrous beloAV aside from the prominent veins, borne 

 on slender, red or green petioles 2-4 inches long. 



Flowers — Appearing in March and April in advance of the leaves in dense, 

 sessile, axillary clusters on the growth of the preceding season, scarlet or 

 yellowish red. polygamous, pedicellate, the staminate and pistillate in 

 sejiarate clusters on the same or on different trees. Calyx campanulate. 

 deeply 5-lobed, the lobes oblong and obtuse. Petals 5, oblong or linear. 

 K|ualing the calyx-lobes. Stamens ;5-8. exserted in the staminate flowers, 

 with slender filaments and scarlet anthers. Pistil consisting of a gla- 

 bious, compressed, laterally lobed ovary and 2 widely divergent styles 

 which bear elongated stigniatic lolies. 



Fruit — A glabrous, scarlet or reddish browni, double samara consisting of 2 

 somewhat striate, laterally compressed, seed-like carpels about V^ of an 

 inch long bearing from the back thin, erect, divergent Avings ^/^-l inch 

 long, borne in clusters on drooping stalks 3-4 inches long. The samaras 

 mature in ^lay and June and the seeds usually germuiate at once. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather slender, lustrous, pale lentieellate. light 

 or dark re<l, at length gray tinged with red, odorless when crushed. 

 Lateral leaf-buds opposite, oval-ovate, obtuse, red. short-stalked, about 

 V-, of an inch long, covered ^rith 3-4 pairs of \Tsible scales which are 

 rounded and ciliate on the margins. Terminal bud similar but slightly 

 larger. Flower-buds numerous, stout, collateral, usually one on either side 

 of the leaf-bud. Mature bark thin, dark gray, divided by shallow fissures 

 into long, longitudinal ridges which separate into long plates at the 

 surface giving the tree a shaggy- appearance, that of young trunks and 

 branches smooth and light gray resembling Beech. 



Habitat — Typically a bottom-land species inhabiting and attaining its best 

 development on river banks and in low, wet swamps in company with 

 Black Ash. Red Gum, Pepperidge, etc., or often occupying such sites to the 

 exclusion of other species It also frequents higher ground, often forming 

 an important part of the forest in hilly areas in comjiany \v\th other 

 species. 



Kange — Xova Scotia westward through southern Canada to Manitoba, south 

 to Florida and eastern Texas. Zones A. B. C, and D. 



Uses — This species possesses ornamental value, more especially because of 

 its foliage which is whitened beneath and turns red or scarlet in the 

 autumn. It is to be recommended for roadside and park planting but is 

 not sufficiently hardy for city streets. Wood medium hard, heavy, not 

 strong, close-grained, light bro^^^l often with a roseate cast. Avith thick 

 paler sapwood. Used for cheap furniture, flooring, in turnery and fur 

 woodenware. 



