Shape pagoda-like, the upper short branches ascending, the lower long, sweeping nearly to the ground; up to 120 ft. tall. Bark reddish brown or gray, becoming furrowed and thinly scaly. Leaves 6-7 in. long, thin, translucent, beautifully silvery below, the toothing very ornamental; drooping on bright red stalks; pale yellow in Fall. Range: N.B. through Gt. Lakes region to centr. Minn., e. Neb., to Ark., s. to Ga., Ala., and centr. Miss. The wood is used like that of Sugar Maple. This swift-growing tree is especially fine in the Middle West where it gives dignity and depth to humble farm yards, and forms spacious glades along the slow rivers. RED MAPLE (Acer rubrum) also called Swamp Maple, is similar, but the leaves not “cut-leaf,” the undersides with a blue bloom but not silvery; autumn foliage scarlet and yellow. Que. to Fla., s. Minn. and e. Tex.
Common Box-elder
COMMON BOX-ELDER
(Acer Negundo)
Shape broadly round topped; 15-50 ft. tall. Trunk slender and often crooked, short and wavy ridged. Bark light brown gray with narrow shallow furrows and short, flat topped ridges. Twigs light olive. Leaves of 3-6 veiny leaflets, dark or olive green. Range: throughout the e. U.S.A. (probably not native in N.E.) and s. Can. to the Rockies, and southwestward through the desert states. Variable over its wide range, sometimes with foliage white- or yellow-margined or spotted, this river bank tree passes unnoticed in the e. forest belt, but owing to its ability to stand drought, wind, cold, and heat, it is highly appreciated on the prairies and semi-deserts for shade. Where better wood is lacking, it is used for furniture, construction, pulp and woodenware. WESTERN BOX ELDER (Acer californicum) has thicker leaflets (only 3) densely hairy beneath. Western States.
Sweet Buckeye
SWEET BUCKEYE
(Aesculus octandra)
Shape a narrowly pyramidal head; up to 90 ft. tall. Bark dark brown, grayer with age, rough scaly. Branches small, pendulous. Leaves of 5-7 leaflets, turning brown in autumn. Petals unequal, longer than the stamens. Seed chestnut-like but inedible, called Horsechestnut. Range: Pa. to Ala., especially in the s. Appalachians and w. to Wis., Ia., Okla. and Tex. When, in spring, the turrets of golden flowers rise on the branch tips, this symmetrical tree seems lighted with candelabra. OHIO BUCKEYE (Aesculus glabra) is a large tree, differing in its smaller, pale yellow flowers; petals unequal, shorter than the curved stamens; fruit covered with prickles when young; bark ill-scented. W. Pa. to Mich., Mo., Kans., Okla., Tenn. and n. Ga. CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE (Aesculus californica) is a fine, broad-topped tree with pink or white flowers. Calif.
