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ACERACEAE 
SAPINDACEAE. BUCKEYE FAMILY 
Trees with opposite palmately compound leaves, irregular flowers, 
5-lobed calyx, 4 or 5 petals, 5 to 7 stamens and a 3-celled ovary becoming 
a leathery dehiscent pod.—Species 22, north temperate zone. 
1. AESCULUS L. Horse Chestnut 
Flowers showy, crowded in a terminal cylindrical cluster, mostly sterile, 
usually but 1 or 2 in each cluster setting fruit. Petals slightly unequal, 
with claws. Ovules 2 in each cell, commonly but 1 ovule in the ovary ma¬ 
turing, the pod therefore with one large seed. (Latin name of an Italian 
oak with edible acorns.) 
1. A. californica (Spach) Nutt. California Buckeye. Low broad¬ 
headed tree 2 to 7 m. high: leaflets 5 to 7; flower-clusters 10 to 14 cm. 
long, ill-scented: seeds smooth and polished, reddish-brown, 3.6 to 6 cm. 
in diameter.—Low hills. 
ACERACEAE. MAPLE FAMILY 
Trees with opposite leaves and small regular flowers. Calyx 5-lobed. 
Petals 5 or none. Stamens 7 to 10. Styles 2, long. Ovary 2-lobed, 
2-celled, becoming a pair of winged fruits (samaras).—Species 110, 
mostly upland countries of northern hemisphere. 
ACER L. Maple 
Leaves simple or compound. Flower clusters always drooping. (The 
Latin name.) 
1. A. macrophyllum Pursh. Big-leaf Maple. Tree 5 to 8 m. high 
or more; leaves simple, roundish in outline, 7.2 to 24 cm. broad, palmately 
parted into 5 broad mostly 3-lobed divisions; flowers in racemes, greenish 
or dull white; petals present; stamens 7 to 9; body of fruit short-bristly. 
—Along streams. Highly valued as a street tree. The wood is close- 
grained, rather hard, takes a high polish, and works easily. 
2. A. negundo L. var. californicum Sarg. California Box Elder. 
Tree 5 to 14 m. high; leaves pinnate, the leaflets variable, serrate, cut or 
lobed; staminate and pistillate flowers on different trees; petals none; 
staminate flowers clustered on hair-like pedicels; stamens 4 or 5; pistil¬ 
late flowers in racemes; samaras finely pubescent.—Along streams. Often 
used as a highway tree. 
VITACEAE. VINE FAMILY 
Woody plants, usually climbing by tendrils, with alternate simple or 
palmately compound leaves and small flowers. Calyx minute. Petals 4 
or 5, with as many opposite stamens. Ovary 2-celled, becoming a 1 to 4- 
seeded berry.—About 450 species of tropical and subtropical distribution. 
Leaves simple; tendrils coiling about the support.1. Vitis. 
Leaves palmately compound; leaflets 5 or 3, often but 1 ; tendrils attaching them¬ 
selves by an adhesive disk at tip.2. Ampelopsis. 
1. VITIS L. Grape 
Climbing by the coiling of naked tendrils. Leaves simple, rounded, or 
ovate, heart-shaped at base. Flowers in very fragrant clusters, the petals 
