254 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Acer rubrum, L. Rkd Maple, or "Redbud/^ 



A medium-sized or sometimes a large tree, appropriately- 

 named, for its flowers, young fruits, and autumn leaves are all 

 bright red. It blooms in Feliruary or March, and the fruits are 

 just about grown by the time the leaves unfold. 



This is one of the least appreciated of our common trees. It 

 is planted for shade a good deal in the North, and less frequently 

 in the South, and one horticultural variety has been described. 

 The wood is said to be rather hard, close-grained, and easily 

 worked, and good for cabinet-making, gun-stocks, etc., etc.. but it 

 is seldom sawn into lumber, because the trunk is usually irregu- 

 larly shaped, or branches too low down, and also because trees 

 large enough for saw timber are not very numerous in any one lo- 

 cality. It will probably be used more in the future, though, as 

 more desirable species become scarcer. I have seen the wood used 

 for charcoal in Chilton County, the bark is said to have been used 

 for dye and ink. and the flowers attract many bees and must there- 

 fore yield some honey or beeswax early in the spring. 



Grows on shady slopes and in wet woods and various kinds 

 of swamps, and is most abundant on the poorer soils. I have seen 

 it in every region in the state. l)ut it is rare in 1 A, 9 and 12. and 

 uncommon in T. 



A few varieties or closely related species have been described, 

 such as Acer Dntnuiiondii. (or var. foinciifosuiii ) which seems to 

 be merely a robust larger-leaved form growing in muddy swamps, 

 and A. Caroliniamim (or var. tridcns), which seems to be the 

 other extreme, growing in sour sandy soils. 



The next .species is sometimes put in a different genus (Rulac, 

 or Ncgnndo), on account of its compound leaves and certain other 

 differences, but when that is done it makes complications in no- 

 menclature, and it can very w^ell be left in .Iccv without doing vio- 

 lence to the facts. 



Acer Negundo, L. {Nccinndo accroidcs,Moe\\c\\). Box Elder. 



A small to medium-sized tree, with leaning or crooked trunk, 

 and green twigs. Blooms in March. 



Often cultivated for ornament or shade, both North and 

 South. Four horticultural varieties have lieen named. The wood 



