PLANTS OF NORTH ELBA 85 



an indication o a rich soil and the rank and vigorous growth of weeds 

 and grasses, so often seen about sugar camps, confirms the evidence of 

 the maples. Several species of plants noted for their fondness for rich 

 moist soil occur about Wood's sugar camp on the Adirondack lodge 

 road. Considerable maple sugar is made in North Elba and griddle 

 cakes with maple syrup is a favorite article of food both of the inhabit- 

 ants and of summer boarders. 



Acer rubrum L. 



Red maple. Soft maple. Swamp maple 



Swamps, low ground along streams and margins of lakes. Common. 

 April and May. The red maple is a smaller tree than the sugar maple 

 and of less value commercially. Its foliage assumes beautiful red tints in 

 autumn and it helps make the forest appear like an immense flower garden 

 at that season. 



Acer Pennsylvanicum Z. 

 Striped maple. Moosewood. Whistlewood 



Woods and rocky places. Common. June. The smooth bark of 

 young trees is beautifully marked with white and green stripes. The 

 yellowish green flowers are larger than the flowers of any of the other 

 native maples. They form beautiful drooping racemes. 



Acer spicatum Lam. 



Mountain maple 



Rocky places and mountain sides. Common. June. This shrub or 

 small tree often grows in clumps. Its small pale flowers form oblong or 

 cylindric erect spike-like clusters or racemes. The silver maple, Acer 

 saccharinum L., is found in the eastern part of Essex county but is 

 apparently wanting in North Elba. The black maple, Acer nigrum Mx., 

 is also absent. 



LEGUMINOSAE 

 Trifolium repens L. 



White clover. Dutch clover 



Meadows, pastures and roadsides. Common. July to September. 

 This is the only native clover observed, and it and the tufted vetch 

 are the only indigenous representatives of their family seen in North 

 Elba. 



