78 
LARGE LEAVED MAPLE. 
The topographical range of this splendid species of Ma- 
ple, wholly indigenous to the north-west coast of America 
or the territory of Oregon, is a somewhat narrow strip 
along the coast of the Pacific, not extending into the inte- 
rior beyond the alluvial tracts of the Oregon, which com- 
mence at the second cataracts of that river, (known by the 
name of the Dalles,) and at the distance of about 130 miles 
from the sea. To the north, it extends probably to the 
latitude of 50°, or the borders of Fraser’s river, and although 
by Decandolle, it is said to extend to Upper California on 
the south, we did not observe it in the vicinity of Monterey; 
and therefore conclude that its utmost boundary in this 
direction must be to St. Francisco, in about the 38th degree 
of latitude. This fine species was discovered by Menzies, 
and afterwards collected by Lewis and Clarke. It nowhere 
presents a more interesting appearance to the traveller than 
in the immediate vicinity of the falls of the Oregon ; its 
dense shade, due to the great magnitude of its foliagp and 
lofty elevation, as well as the wide extent of its spreading 
summit, are greatly contrasted with the naked, woodless 
plains of that river, w'hich continue uninterruptedly to the 
mountains ; a tract over which the traveller seeks in vain 
for shade or shelter, and where the fuel requisite to cook 
his scanty meal, has to be collected from the accidental 
drift wood which has been borne down from the distant 
mountains of its sources. 
The largest trunks of this species that we have seen, 
were on the rich alluvial plains of the Wahlamet, and 
particularly near to its confluence with the Tlacainas ; here 
we saw trees from 50 to 90 feet in height, with a circum- 
ference of 8 to 16 feet. It appears always to affect the 
drier and more elevated tracts, where the soil is well 
drained. 
The wood, like that of the Sugar Maple, exhibits the 
most beautiful variety in its texture ; some of it being undu- 
