Trees of North Carolina 77 



lanceolate with a long point, smooth on both sides, 

 about 2^2-3^2 inches long, and 1-2 inches broad; 

 berries red, on short stems, about % inch in diame- 

 ter. In Chapel Hill this is only a shrub, reaching 

 a height of about 8 feet, and is not rare in the woods 

 and sometimes in open pastures, as at top of Lone 

 Pine Hill. A tomentose form of this from the moun- 

 tains has been called Ilex Beadlei Ashe. 



MAPLE FAMILY 



(ACERACEAE) 



123. Acer saccharinum L. Silver Maple. 



A good sized tree of rare occurrence in rich woods 

 at moderate elevations in the mountains. Leaves 

 deeply cut and toothed, white and smooth beneath; 

 flowers without petals, appearing before the leaves. 

 This maple is of very rapid growth and is often 

 planted for this reason, but its brittleness and sus- 

 ceptibility to scale makes it undesirable for cultiva- 

 tion. 



124. Acer rubrum L. Red Maple. 



A common tree in North Carolina, inhabiting 

 swamps and low grounds in the upper coastal plain 

 and valleys and hillsides in the Piedmont and moun- 

 tains. Leaves with 3-5 deep lobes which are strongly 

 and irregularly toothed, pale and usually smooth be- 

 neath; flowers bright red, appearing very early; 

 fruits red, usually, but sometimes yellowish, ripening 



