268 Trees for Shade and Ornament 
but have points which make them equal, if not superior in value, to 
the native species: 
A. plaianoides Linn. (146), Norway Maple, is nearest in outline, 
habit and form of foliage to the sugar maple, except that the foliage is 
usually larger, of somewhat darker shade, and its dense, finely fissured, 
brownish bark is superior to the gray, flaky bark of the sugar maple. 
It is the finest and earliest bloomer among the maples, with pendulous 
Fic. gt. — Mediterranean Maple. Acer Monsspessulanum Linn. 
clusters of greenish yellow flowers (March, April), and excels in its long 
leaf period. It is very hardy, a very rapid grower, and adaptive to 
any soil and situation; a perfect shade tree, free from all troubles, alto- 
gether the most serviceable maple. 
A. pseudoplatanus Linn. (147), Sycamore Maple, also from northern 
Europe, and hardy at Ottawa if grown from northern seed, 1s quite dis- 
tinctive from all other maples by its large, rich, dark green, thick leaves 
on long reddish stems, and its long pendents of conspicuous, although 
green, flowers and fruit, a stiiking ornamental. In outline and branch 
habit it is less elegant and symmeirical than the former, being stiffer 
