RED MAPLE (Acer rubrum L.) 



THE red maple, or swamp maple, is widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the State. It is usually 

 a medium-sized tree, quick-growing and relatively 

 short-lived. It is used as a shade tree, though much 

 inferior for this purpose to the other maples, espe- 

 cially the sugar maple. The bark is smooth and 

 light gray on young stems, and dark gray and rough 

 on the old limbs and trunk. 



RED MAPLE 



Leaf, one-third natural size. 



Twig, one-half natural size. 



The leaves are 2 to 5 inches long and have from 

 3 to 5 pointed, saw-toothed lobes, which are sepa- 

 rated by sharp angular sinuses or openings. The 

 upper surface when mature is light green and the 

 lower surface whitish and partly covered with pale 

 down. In autumn the leaves turn to brilliant shades 

 of red, orange and yellow. 



The red flowers in dense clusters appear in early 

 spring before the leaves, the buds turning a deep 

 red sometime before they open. The winter buds 

 are small, red and round or blunt-pointed. The 

 fruit ripens in late spring or early summer. It 

 consists of pairs of winged seeds, or keys, one-half 

 to 1 inch in length, on long drooping stems, red, 

 reddish brown or yellow in color. 



The wood, which is commercially known as soft 

 maple, is heavy, close-grained, rather weak and of 

 a light-brown color. It is used in the manufacture 

 of furniture, and for turnery, woodenware, and also 

 for fuel. 



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