282 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



Small Chesnut Oak. Quercus prinus chinquapin. 



In the Northern and Middle States this pretty little species is 

 called Small or Dwarf Chesnut Oak, from the resemblance of its 

 leaves to those of the rock chesnut oak ; as there is also a likeness 

 between its foliage and that of the chinquapin, it is known in 

 East Tennessee and in the upper part of the Carolinas by the 

 name of Chinquapin Oak. This tree is not generally diffused, 

 but is rare in many places adapted to its constitution, and is 

 usually found in particular districts, where, alone, or mingled 

 with the bear oak, it sometimes covers tracts of more than 100 

 acres. The presence of these species is a certain proof of the 

 barrenness of the soil. It is found in Rhode Island, New. York, 

 Pennsylvania and in Virginia on the Alleghanies. 



This species and another which is found in the pine forests of 

 the Southern States rarely exceeds 30 inches in height : they 

 are the most diminutive of the American oaks. The leaves are 

 oval-acuminate, regularly but not deeply denticulated, of a light 

 green above and whitish beneath. Its "fructification is annual, 

 and its flowers put forth in May and are followed by acorns of a 

 middling size, somewhat elongated, similarly rounded at both 

 ends, inclosed for one-third of their length in scaly, sessile, cups: 

 they are very sweet. 



Nature seems to have sought a compensation for the diminutive 

 size of this shrub in the abundance of its fruit : the stem which 

 is sometimes no bigger than a quill, is stretched at full length 

 upon the ground by the weight of the thickly-clustering acorns. 

 United with the bear oak, which is of the same size and equally 

 prolific, perhaps it might be cultivated with advantage for its 

 fruit. 



