MAPLE FAMILY. 



91 



Bup-like. Petals notie. JWiii (includicg the -wing) 2-3 inctcs long, one of the carpels 

 Ofiually abortive ; pedicels of the fruit an inch long. Seeds large ; embryo nearly straight. 

 Banks of rivers : Maine to Georgia. Fl. April. Fr. May -June. 



Obs. This has been extensively introduced into our cities and vil- 

 lages, as an ornamental tree, — and is often mistaken for the true Sugar 

 Maple. It appears, indeed, from the researches of Prof. A. Geay, that 

 Li^XAEUS established the A. saccharinum upon a specimen of this plant ; 

 but, as it Tvas done under a misapprehension of its character, the name 

 has been very properly ti-ansferred, by all succeeding Botanists, to the 

 real sugar-producing species. The Silver Maple, however, is by no 

 means to be compared with the Sugar Maple, even as a shade tree, — 

 and much less for its economical value. 



ft Petals 5. 



5. A. rn'brum, L. Leaves generally 3-lobed with the sinuses acute, 

 subcordate at base, — the lobes acute, spreading, unequally incised- 

 dentate ; flowers aggregated on rather long pedicels ; ovary glabrous. 

 PtED Acer. Eed Maple. Swamp Maple. 



.Stem 40-60 or 80 feet high, and 1-2 feet or more in diameter, branched, the young 

 branches purplish. L&y.ves 2-4 inches long ; petioles 1 or 2-5 inches long. Flowers ap- 

 pearing before the leaves, in fascicles of fives. Calyx petaloid, and with the petals bright 

 purple, or often yellowish-tawny. FruU (including the wing) near an inch long. 



Fig. 68. A leaf of the Red Maple (Acer rubrum), with its winged key -fruit (samara.) 

 69. A stam nate flower. 70. A pistillate flower, both enlarged. 



