The sycamore is the most important European species of the genus Acer. It is a tree of western, central and southern Europe, its northward distribution falling short of the Baltic Sea, but it is much planted elsewhere and now naturalized as far north as 'the Shetland Islands and southern Scandinavia.
It generally grows to a height of no more than 7 to 15 metres. Only in riverinc woods or rich soil does it attain a height of more than 15 metres. The bark is furrowed into rhombic plates and the variety suberosa has corky wings on the twigs. The leaf stalk exudes a milky substance when broken off. The yellow-green flowers appear at the beginning of May, together with the leaves. The fruit, a wide double samara with parallel wings, ripens in September and October.
The honey locust is a light-demanding tree and stands up well to cutting-back. It is found in parks, and sometimes in the vicinity of country dwellings, where it is used as a thorny hedge. The wood, which is hard with reddish brown heartwood, is highly prized. The unripe pods are a favourite food of livestock and the dye they yield is used in colouring fabrics.
The Box-elder is a native of North America, where it has a wide range of distribution, extending from California to Florida and northwards to Canada. It was introduced into Europe in 1688, and today is cultivated throughout the entire Continent, tolerating even, the climate of northern Europe. In some areas it is well naturalized and appears wild. It lives to an age of only a hundred years or so and reaches a height of 10 to 20 metres.
It, too, is a large tree of fine proportions, reaching a height of 25 to 30 metres, but it never attains the diameter of the sycamore. It differs from the latter in having longitudinally fissured bark, reddish brown buds pressed close to the twig, and sharply- pointed, lobed leaves. When broken off, the stalk exudes a milky white sap. The bright yellow-green flowers appear in April together with the leaves, and are pollinated by insects. The double samaras have wide-spreading wings.
The Norway maple is shade-tolerant and needs rich, moist soil for good growth. The wood is very like that of the sycamore in appearance and is used for similar purposes, but is not as highly valued. The Norway maple has many ornamental forms, including purple and variegated leaved kinds. It tolerates the smoky atmosphere of cities, and is popularly planted in parks and city streets. - 16035
It generally grows to a height of no more than 7 to 15 metres. Only in riverinc woods or rich soil does it attain a height of more than 15 metres. The bark is furrowed into rhombic plates and the variety suberosa has corky wings on the twigs. The leaf stalk exudes a milky substance when broken off. The yellow-green flowers appear at the beginning of May, together with the leaves. The fruit, a wide double samara with parallel wings, ripens in September and October.
The honey locust is a light-demanding tree and stands up well to cutting-back. It is found in parks, and sometimes in the vicinity of country dwellings, where it is used as a thorny hedge. The wood, which is hard with reddish brown heartwood, is highly prized. The unripe pods are a favourite food of livestock and the dye they yield is used in colouring fabrics.
The Box-elder is a native of North America, where it has a wide range of distribution, extending from California to Florida and northwards to Canada. It was introduced into Europe in 1688, and today is cultivated throughout the entire Continent, tolerating even, the climate of northern Europe. In some areas it is well naturalized and appears wild. It lives to an age of only a hundred years or so and reaches a height of 10 to 20 metres.
It, too, is a large tree of fine proportions, reaching a height of 25 to 30 metres, but it never attains the diameter of the sycamore. It differs from the latter in having longitudinally fissured bark, reddish brown buds pressed close to the twig, and sharply- pointed, lobed leaves. When broken off, the stalk exudes a milky white sap. The bright yellow-green flowers appear in April together with the leaves, and are pollinated by insects. The double samaras have wide-spreading wings.
The Norway maple is shade-tolerant and needs rich, moist soil for good growth. The wood is very like that of the sycamore in appearance and is used for similar purposes, but is not as highly valued. The Norway maple has many ornamental forms, including purple and variegated leaved kinds. It tolerates the smoky atmosphere of cities, and is popularly planted in parks and city streets. - 16035
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In garden planning, flowering plants grown in containers will give vivid color and variety to the smallest roof garden and any available height can be used to train up climbing plants.
