A CERA CEAZ. 



263 



five lobes, which are again notched. The clusters of flowers 



are pendulous on long hairy pedicels. The petals are wanting. 



The calyx is bell-shaped 



and several times lobed, 



usually five times. The 



stamens are variable in 



number. The ovary is 



two-lobed and the style 



deeply forked. The fruit 



forms two seeds, each with 



a long wing-like expansion 



as shown in the figure. 



The flowers of the maple are polygamo-dioecious, that is the 



male members (stamens) and female members (carpels) may be 



in the same flower or in different flowers. 



jpig. 224. 



Seeds and flowers of sugar maple. At the right is 

 a pistillate flower, in the middle a staminate flower, 

 and at the left the two seeds forming a samara. 



Exercise 74. 



423. The sugar maple (Acer saccharinum). — (Another species may be 

 studied if desired. ) 



Leaves. — Determine the form and arrangement of the leaves; sketch a leaf. 



Inflorescence. — Describe the character of the inflorescence ; sketch a 

 flower cluster. 



Flowers. — Select several different flowers, some from different trees, and 

 compare them carefully to see if the members of the flower are the same in 

 all. Sketch several to show the general character. 



What parts of the flower are present ? Describe the form and character of 

 each set of members, and their relation to each other. Determine the number 

 of members in each set and their relations among themselves. Study several 

 flowers to make this out. 



The fruit- — Sketch a fruit. What parts of the flower are united in the 

 fruit? 



If there is time it will be found instructive to compare the flowers of an- 

 other species of maple, like the red maple, with the sugar maple. Examine 

 different flowers from several different trees in order to compare the different 

 sizes of the stamens and pistils in different flowers, and the facts with refer- 

 ence to the presence or absence of any of the members in certain of the 

 flowers. Compare the leaves of the red maple with those of the sugar maple 

 also. 



