THE MAPLE. 



1^1 



LEAF, SHOOT, AND STIPULES. 



Early in April the sheath of the bud is of a dull green colour. 

 These sheaths lengthen out, until the unopened bud is about a quarter 



of an inch long, though 

 not more than one-eighth 

 of an inch in width. At 

 the end of April the young 

 shoot appears : it bears at its 

 apex a pair of leaves point- 

 ing upwards. Only the under 

 sides of these can be seen, 

 tinted yellow-green or pink, 

 and covered with white 

 hairs, for the segments of 

 the leaf-blades are folded 

 together at the vertical ribs. 

 Within this outer pair of 

 leaves, and at their base, a 

 younger opposite pair are hidden away. Two rose-pink stipules, downy 

 and pointed, appear on either side of the base of each leaf stalk. 

 These stipules grow to three-quarters of an inch long, and curve 

 downwards as they lengthen. The outer pair of leaves gradually take 

 up a horizontal position, so that they lie at right angles to the inner 

 pair, which still remain vertical. The upper surface of the leaves, 

 while they are half developed, is, as a rule, somewhat glossy, with 

 a tinge of red near the margin ; the under side is smooth and paler 

 in tone. 



Occasionally the young leaves are soft and downy, and their 

 yellowish-green colour tends to become brighter with exposure : they 



