A REMARKABLE FOREST IX MICHIGAN. A9 



necessary in the collection of mushrooms for food, still one can learn 

 with careful observation to readily discriminate between species so that 

 the deadly Amanita and its noxious relatives may be avoided. 



''The handsomely illustrated book, 'Our Edible Toadstools and Mush- 

 rooms,' by the late Hamilton Gibson, is doing- much toward popularizing 

 the eating of mushrooms among those who have access to the book. The 

 forty-eighth report by Trof. Peck, recently received, should be mentioned 

 in this connection, as it contains many illustrations and descriptions of 

 edible fungi found in the state of New York. A smaller work of similar 

 character by Julius A. Palmer, Jr., is also a desirable book for those 

 wishing to become familiar with the commonest forms of edible fungi. 

 The scientific side of the subject is a field which seems to have been but 

 little worked in our State, although our woods and fields and even our 

 dooryards can furnish abundant material. A surprising number of species 

 can be found in a limited area. Very much the larger part of our collec- 

 tion has been made in a piece of woods about seven acres in extent lying 

 a little north of the College campus. It is our intention to continue 

 making a careful study of these plants in our county and State, and we 

 should be pleased to communicate with persons interested in this subject. 

 We will endeavor to indentify specimens sent us." 



A REMARKABLE FOREST IN MICHIGAN NOT HITHERTO KNOWN 



TO SCIENCE. 



BY S. ALEXANDER. BIRMINGHAM. 



(Read before the Academy, April 1, 1S97.) 



(Abstract.) 



At Birmingham. Oakland county, in 1805. I found an oak tree nearly 

 four feet in diameter and one hundred feet high, the leaves and fruit of 

 which resembled Quercus prinoides and Q. acuminata. Later many other 

 large trees were found. After seeing specimens. Prof. Sargent concludes 

 that it is Quercus acuminata, although the bark differs from that usually 

 found on this species. On studying numerous specimens from this and 

 other trees of the neighborhood, G. B. Sud worth pronounces it Quercus 

 prinoides, although this species has heretofore been known as a shrub 

 five to fifteen feet high. Mr. Sudworth notes that different trees of some 

 species of oaks vary much and are difficult to identify, but he can see no 

 reason for suspecting a new species in this specimen. 



Dr. N. L. Britton, on first examination in the field, believed it was a new 

 tree, possibly Quercus MichauwU, but later he decided it could not be that 

 species. 



