llANiir.ooK (>i.' T];i'M':s of tjie Northern States and Canada. .327 



The Black xMaple, like Uic Sii^'ar ilaplt, ig 

 a stately tree attaiiiiui,' the height ui 80 or 

 100 ft. with trunk :> <ir 4 ft. in ilianieler, and 

 also when is<ilate(.l ih'\ehj[is a tlistinet o\'oid top 

 (if ii|iri,i;lit hranrhi's, ami these yradnally henil- 

 ing outward make in old aye a broad rounded 

 top. With the eciuntry folk generally no dis- 

 tinction is made Indween this and the true 

 Sugar JIa]ile, and its sap is likewise used in 

 sugar-iiiakin.ir. Imt to the ohserver its droopinjj; 

 concave leaves and oilier liolanical features 

 indicate its distinctness. It thrives liest in the 

 rich soil of river-hottoiiis in emupany with tne 

 Silver and lied Maples, Hii\ I'dder, Swamp 

 White Oak, Kinsnut lliikory, etc. Like the 

 Sugar Maple it is a favorile shade tree owin,g 

 to its ahnndant fidia.ye, wliieh in autumn as- 

 sumes gorgeous scarlet, orange and yellow 

 tints. 



The wood is hard, heavy and strong, similar 



to that of the Sugar ,Ma|ih' 1 applied to the 



same uses. A culdc foot \vhen ahsolutely dry 



weighs 43.00 lbs. 



Lravrs mosllv I'.-lebed (oceasionaipv r.-lobed) 

 with broad short and f;('nerall,v aeinninate lohes, 

 entire or sIiKhtl.\- imdulatcd, eerdale at base with 

 lobes sometimes o\'eidao[iin'.i'. lomentose at first 

 but at maturit,v ;;hibriins diiii darl; ^reen al>ove, 

 yellow-ffreen and pubescent al li'asl on the veins 

 benoatli. firm and Willi droopinK sides; petioles 

 stout and generallv bearing- slipules at the en- 

 larged base. /'Vnicfrs- .appearing; Willi the leaves 

 in subsessiie liairy pend'aiT e(ir\'iiibs witll slender 

 pedicels '2-'.\ in. lorn,'; eaUx <;i inpa niil;i d' : corolla 

 none; stamens 7-S ; oxary pilose I'niit r[|iening 

 in autumn : siini.-tras ^hiOnms, willi ijiiilr di\'er,i,Mai t 

 win^s nearl,\- 1 in, loin;-. 



