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MOUNTAIN MAPLE. 

 Acer spicatum, Lambert. 



FORM — A shrub or small tree sometimes attaining height of 35 ft. with a diameter of 11 

 inches. Usually a shrub growing in clumps oa rocky soil. Trunk usually short and bears 

 rather straight, slender and upright branches. 



BARK — Thin, rather smooth, brown or grayish-brown mottled with dingy-gray blotches. 



TWIGS — Slightly hairj, at first reddish-purple on exposed side and yellowish-green on 

 shaded side, later bright red and then changing to grayish-brown, covered with few scattered 

 lenticels; contain brown pith, and are encircled by 2 or 3 dark rings formed by the scars of 

 fallen bud-scales. 



BUDS — Opposite, short-stalked, rather small, about I of an inch long including stalk; 

 terminal bud larger and more acute-poiniOd than lateral appressed buds; one pair or .sonu-tiiHes 

 two pairs of more or less hairy, grayish or greenish scales visible. 



LEAVES — Opposite, simple, 3-5-lobed, coarsely serrate on margin, cordate at base, some- 

 what hairy on lower surface. Petioles long, slender, and enlarged at base. 



LEAF-SCARS — Opposite, V-shaped, hollow, with 3 bundle-scars, and nearly encircle stem. 



FLOWERS — Appear about June after the leaves are full grown, in erect terminal racemes. 

 Staminate flowers occur usually at the top and the pistillate at the base of the raceme. 



FRUIT — Matures in September in drooping racemes; wings of the keys somewhat divergent, 

 about i of an inch long, the seed-bearing part strongly striated. 



WOOD — Diffuse-porous; soft, close-grained, light to reddish-brown with wide zone of light 

 sapwood. Seldom used commercially. Weighs 33.22 lbs. per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Mountain Maple is essentially a shrubby spe- 

 cies growing in small clumps, and can be distinguished from most species of J^Iai l.y its 

 stalked, few-scaled winter buds, erect raceme of flowers, hairy-purplish to greenish twigs, 

 and simple, 3-5 lobed coarsely serrate leaves. It differs from the closely related Striped Maple 

 in the absence of light-striped bark and brown pubescence on the lower sides of the leaves, 

 and in the presence of pubescence on the branches, and smaller often gaping buds. 



RANGE — Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Michigan, Pennsylvania, and along the 

 mountains to Georgia. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found locally in all parts of the State. Rather com- 

 mon in the mountainous parts. 



HABITAT — It prefers moist rocky hillsides. Commonly found bordering ravines. It de- 

 mands the shade of other species. Very thrifty on the moist slopes and tops of the southern 

 Appalachian' Mountains. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — It is of practically no commercial importance as a 

 timber tree, but is valuable as a soil protector on rock slopes where a protection forest is 

 desirable. This species is planted very extensively for ornamental purposes. 



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