Commercial value: Its wood is heavy, close-grained, and takes a good
polish. Used for furniture and fuel.

Other characters: The _bud_ is small, round, and red. The _flowers_
appear before the leaves are out in the early part of April.

[Illustration: FIG. 31.--Twig of the Red Maple.]

[Illustration: FIG. 32.--Leaf of the Red Maple.]

Other common names: The red maple is sometimes known as _swamp maple_.

[Illustration: FIG. 33.--Twig of Norway Maple.]

Comparisons: The red maple is apt to be confused with the silver maple,
but the latter can be distinguished by its turned-up twigs and scaly
bark over the whole trunk of the tree, which presents a sharp
contrast to the straight twig and smooth bark of the red maple. The
latter has a bark similar to the beech, but its branches are
_opposite_, while those of the beech are _alternate_.


NORWAY MAPLE (_Acer platanoides_)

Distinguishing characters: The bud, Fig. 33, is *oval and reddish-brown*
in color; when taken off, a *milky juice exudes*. The bark is close.
Fig. 34

[Illustration: FIG. 34.--Bark of Norway Maple.]