176 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



In Carolina there are found almost all the varieties 

 of oak which appear elsewhere in North America; but 

 about Charleston and on the near-by islands the fol- 

 lowing are chiefly seen 



The Willow-leaved Oak. Quercus Phellos Linn., 

 the swamp-oak with the willow-leaf. Catesb. 

 I, 16. 



It grows to be a strong and comely tree. It is not so 

 common in South Carolina as in North Carolina ; it is 

 also found in the more northern provinces, but not 

 beyond Pensylvania, where however it is smaller and 

 holds its leaves only in mild winters, whereas here the 

 leaves are kept as a rule the winter through, although 

 some of them fall. 



The Live-Oak. Quercus virginiana Mill. Quercus 

 Phellos. ft foliis oblongatis non sinuatis. L. 

 Cat. I. 17. 



This splendid oak grows strong, tall, and handsome. 

 There is a certain difference as between the leaves of 

 young or old trees and limbs, which often gives them 

 the appearance of distinct varieties. The leaves of the 

 young trees, and of the young limbs of older trees, are 

 lance-shaped or oblong and are set with little points at 

 the edge. The other leaves are similar to these in 

 shape, but blunted, the upper surface somewhat 

 wrinkled, the under, downy or white, quite curled at 

 the edges. The Catesbean figure is therefore not pre- 

 cisely exact, showing these leaves smooth, as it does, 

 when they are not. This difference as between the 

 leaves borne in mind, it will be found that the Linnean 

 character of the Quercus Ilex will also apply at times 

 to the young trees of this species of oak. In addition 

 there are sundry other variations ; sub-varieties appear 



