348 DECIDUOUS TREES. 



mens that are growing in this country fully confirm this estimate of 

 its beauty. Its variegation is not uniform on the leaves, but here 

 and there an entire twig has white leaves, and single leaves mot- 

 tled with white appear occasionally among the green leaves, so that 

 the effect is pleasing, and does not convey the impression of 

 diseased foliage. A large tree. 



The Yellow-variegated or Gold-leaved Maple, A. /. flava 

 variegata (and aurea, of different nurserymen). A healthy variety 

 with some of its leaves a pure light yellow, and occasionally mottled. 

 An exceedingly beautiful warm toned, and healthy variety, that 

 makes a charming contrast with the purple-leaved maple, and in 

 the spring is certainly one of the finest of trees. 



The Norway Maple. Acer platanoides. — This species has a 

 more vigorous growth than the sugar maple, and a similar formality 

 of contour. Its leaves are also similar, but larger and thicker, and 

 not so profusely set upon the twigs. The head is also somewhat 

 rounder, and the young v/ood stouter ; but an observer not critical 

 in trees might easily mistake it for the sugar maple. The differ- 

 ence in the rapidity of their growth is not so great as was formerly 

 supposed. The bark on the young shoots is green, afterwards a 

 brownish red, dotted with white points. The buds are large and 

 red in autumn, and grow to a darker red in winter. The leaves in 

 autumn turn sometimes to a fine yellow, and at others to a brilliant 

 red, and are always well colored. 



The Cut-leaved or Eagle's Claw Maple, Acer p. lacinia- 

 tum, is a variety of the Norway maple, with very deeply-lobed 

 and sharp-pointed leaves, — a mere leaf curiosity in a collection 

 of maples. 



Lobel's Maple, A. p. lobelii, is an Italian variety of medium 

 size, with smaller and more obtuse leaves of a pea-green color, 

 which hang late in the fall. 



The Shred-leaved Maple, Acer dissectum, is a new Japan 

 variety, with leaves divided down to the base into nine or ten lobes, 

 that hang almost like separate leaves. Its foliage in the nursery 

 is profuse, and a vivid glossy green ; but of its more mature de- 

 velopment we cannot speak. 



