OAKS 213 



There is however much variation in the lobing, from large 

 nearly serrate teeth to coarse sinuate, and occasionally 

 nearly pinnatipartite segments ; and leaves on suckers may 

 be large and hairy. Deep dull green above, glabrous except 

 for a few tufts of hairs ; paler beneath and slightly velvety 

 with stellate hairs, hardly hoary. Petiole short, 3 20 mm. 

 Stipules long, setaceous, curved and tomentose, persistent 

 on the leaf-bases. 



Autumn leaves russet-brown to dull whitish grey. 

 In young trees the dead leaves may remain on the twigs 

 through the winter. 



Venation reddish, pinnate as in Q. Robur ; the second- 

 aries about eight pairs. 



Lobes obtuse, rounded; stipules not per- 

 sistent round the buds; surface glabrous ; 

 base often auricled. 



Quercus Robur, L. Oak (Fig. 68). Large spreading 

 tree with tufted shoots. Leaves oblong-obovate, 4 12 

 x 2*5 7 cm. (or up to 10 20 cm. long), widest about or 

 just above the middle, often slightly asymmetrical, taper- 

 ing, especially in young plants, or somewhat rounded or 

 unequally auriculate at the base, cut to various depths in 

 sinuate fashion. Lobes about 6 8, not quite regular, 

 rounded oblong or somewhat triangular, obtuse or slightly 

 emarginate or acute, or even slightly mucronate, entire 

 or sinuate ; sinuses rounded or acute. More or less cori- 

 aceous, glabrous, bright green, matt or scarcely shining 

 above ; paler, glaucous and glabrous or slightly pubescent 

 beneath, or pubescent only in the axils of the venation, 

 or in some varieties hoary. Young leaves pubescent. 

 Petiole from 2 15 mm. up to 1 3 cm. long. Hairs 

 simple or stellate. Tawny reddish when young, russet- 

 brown in autumn. In young trees the dead leaves often 

 hang on through the winter. 



