28G 



SYLVA AMERICANA. 



Chesnut White Oak. Quercus prinus palustris. 



PLATE LXXXVIII. 

 Fig. 1. A leaf. Fig. 2. The fruit. 



The Chesnut White Oak 

 is first seen in the vicinity of 

 Philadelphia ; but it is less 

 multiplied and less amply 

 developed than farther south. 

 It is most abundant in the 

 maritime parts of the Caro- 

 linas, Georgia and East 

 Florida, and is probably 

 found on the banks of the 

 Mississippi, which are analo- 

 gous to those of many rivers 

 of the Southern States. In 

 Pennsylvania this species is 

 confounded with the rock 

 chesnut oak, which it strik- 

 ingly resembles ; farther 

 south, where the rock chesnut oak is unknown, it is called 

 Chesnut White Oak, Swamp Chesnut Oak, and generally on the 

 Savannah White Oak. This tree grows only in large swamps 

 that border the rivers or are inclosed in the forests ; but it always 

 prefers spots that are rarely inundated, where the soil is loose, 

 deep, constantly cool and luxuriantly fertile. 



Under favorable circumstances the chesnut oak arrives at the 

 height of 90 feet with a proportional diameter. Its straight trunk, 

 undivided and of an uniform size to the height of 50 feet, and its 

 expansive tufted summit, form one of the most beautiful and 

 majestic trees of the North American forests. Its leaves are 

 eight or nine inches long, four or five inches broad, obovate, 

 deeply toothed, of a light, shining green above and whitish 

 beneath. Its fructification is annual. The flowers make their 

 appearance in May and are followed by brown, oval acorns, 

 larger than those of any other species except the over-cup white oak, 

 and are contained in shallow, scaly cups. Being sweet-flavored, 



