158 BOTANY OF THE 
alba), Red and Scarlet Oaks (Q. rubra and coccinea), Post Oak 
(Q. obtusiloba), Rock Chestnut Oak (Q. mantana), Swamp White 
Oak (Q. discolor), Chestnut (Castamen vesca var. Americana), 
Tupelo, Sour or Black Gum (Nyssa multiflora), Red or Swamp 
Maple (Acer rubrum). Of these, the White Oak, so called from 
the colour of the bark, which looks as if rubbed over with wood 
ashes, might, perhaps, be perfectly grown in our own country ; for 
its timber is little, if at all, inferior to its European repre- 
sentative, Q. pedunculata. Wherever I have seen this tree, I 
have remarked the regularity of outline and straightness of 
trunk which distinguish it from the British species: the leaves 
are more deeply and regularly incised ; and its whole appearance 
is neater, but less picturesque. For tree timber it might be less 
valuable than our own oak, but would furnish longer and straighter 
sticks for sawing into planks, or for beams, &c. Quercus tinctoria, 
usually called Black Oak from the dark hue of the bark, (which 
is exported, with that of some other kinds, to Europe as Quercitan, 
for dyeing yellow,) comes, perhaps, too near Q. rubra and coccinea 
in character, but is readily known (from the former) by its acorn, 
which is smaller and seated in a cup that tapers at the base. 
At a distance, this tree is easily recognised by the heavy character 
of its foliage, in consequence of the more unevenly and obtusely 
sinuate and lobed leaves, that vary greatly in form on the same 
tree, and are often scarcely more than separately toothed. Quercus 
coccinea resembles the Black Oak in the size and shape of the 
fruit, which is sessile as in that, but the leaves, though similar, 
are always deeply sinuate and lobed, and are remarkable for the 
intense brilliancy of their scarlet colours in autumn. The much — 
larger acorn, in a shallow cup, with very smooth, compact scales, 
distinguishes Q. rubra from its allies; but the greatest similarity 
runs through the oaks of the Rudre sections, in the size, shape; 
and division of their leaves ; though a practical eye can generally 
distinguish them without seemg the fruit. The other trees 
and shrubs were Yellow or Tulip Poplars (Liriodendron tuli- 
pifera), Alder (Alnus serrulata), Persimon (Diospyros Vir- 
giniana), Sassafras (Sassafra officinale), Spice-wood or Fever- 
bush (Benzoin odoriferum), Arrow-wood (Viburnum den- 
