Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



leaves about two weeks longer than our native species — 

 an important consideration from every point of view. 

 The field maple {Acer campestre), of Europe, is made 

 too much of in the Park, as it is a quite inferior species. 

 Its leaf-type, as one can see by referring to the illustra- 

 tions, is least ornamental of all maples. 



Two other interesting native species, oftener shrubs 

 than trees, with a northern and mountainous range, are 

 the striped and mountain maples, with very distinctive 

 leaves. Both blossom much later than the other sorts, 

 and the abundant long clusters of bright red-winged 

 fruit, hanging from the striped maple along a mountain- 

 road in August, will catch the aimless eye of the most 

 inattentive observer. This is the only species whose 

 flower-cluster is erect, drooping only as the fruit ripens. 



The box-elder, or ash-leaved maple, with a com- 

 pound leaf, would never be admitted to the family, 

 were it not for its doubly winged fruit, which is the in- 

 dubitable proof of kinship ; this is of more westerly 

 range, but often planted eastward, where a small, quick- 

 growing, graceful tree is desired. With identical fruit, 

 but widely diverse foliage, there must be several " miss- 

 ing links" — possibly held fast in the rock strata — 

 between the box -elder and all other maples. 



This family fills a niche in nature and nature-art that 

 could be supplied by no other tree-group, the world 

 over. Its supreme glory, however, is in the transient 

 period of autumn coloring, and here the native species 

 are pre-eminent. The sour gum and dogwood may 

 show quite as startling a scarlet, the tulip-tree and ginkgo 

 as rich a yellow ; but for lavish quantity of gorgeous 



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