DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
171 
The Scarlet-flowering maple, (A. rubrum ,) is found chiefly 
on the borders of rivers, or in swamps ; the latter place ap- 
pears best suited to this tree, for it there often attains a very 
large size : it is frequently called the Soft maple or Swamp 
maple. The blossoms come out about the middle of April, 
while the branches are yet bare of leaves, and their numerous 
little pendulous stamens appear like small tufts of scarlet or 
purple threads. The leaves somewhat resemble those of the 
Sugar maple, but are rather smaller, and only three or four 
lobed, glaucous or whitish underneath, and irregularly 
toothed on the margin. This tree may easily be distin- 
guished when young from the former, by the bark of the 
trunk, which is gray, with large whitish spots. Its trunk, 
in the choicest parts, furnishes the beautiful wood known as 
the curled maple. 
The White or Silver-leaved maple. (A. eriocarpum.) 
This species somewhat resembles the Scarlet-flowering 
maple, and they are often confounded together in the east- 
ern and middle states, where it grows but sparingly. West 
of the Alleghany mountains it is seen in perfection, and is 
well known as the White maple. Its flowers are very pale 
in colour, and much smaller than those of the foregoing 
sorts. The leaves are divided into four lobes, and have a 
beautiful white under surface. Michaux, speaking of this tree, 
says : “ In no part of the United States is it more multiplied 
than in the western country, and nowhere is its vegetation 
more luxuriant than on the banks of the Ohio. There, 
sometimes alone and sometimes mingled with the willow, 
which is found along these waters, it contributes singularly, 
by its magnificent foliage, to the embellishment of the scene. 
The brilliant white of the leaves beneath, forms a striking 
contrast with the bright green above, and the alternate re- 
