36 



nerved, loosely lanuginous on the back and the upper half within ; one 

 or two large metamorphosed leaf scales at the base. 



The involucral scales in this, the only specimen we have seen, are 

 successively transformed into chaiF, with an abortive achenial cavity. 



November 30, 1859. 



President in the Chair. 



Dr. Kellogg read a description of a new species of Oak, brought 

 from Clear Lake by Mr. A. A. Veatch. 



QuERCUs MoREHUS, (Kcllogg,) Abram's Oak — Leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, somewhat narrowed towards the acute base ; coarsely sinuate- 

 toothed, or obliquely sinuate-toothed ; teeth very sharply acute, with a 

 broad base, cuspidate-awned ; lamina thin, coriaceous, finely reticulate ; 

 veins prominent, glabrous, and varnished above and below ; scarcely 

 a little paler green beneath ; on slender petioles, one-half to three- 

 fourths of an inch long. Fruit axillary, solitary, on peduncles one- 

 fourth to one-half of an inch in length. Cup hemispherical, tapering 

 at the base, margin thin, scales ovate sub-acute, membranous margin, 

 ciliate below, irregularly serrate above, closely appressed, glabrous. 



Nut oblong, obtusely pointed, about one-third embraced by the cup. 



A small tree, thirty feet in height, with wide spread straggling 

 branches springing out at obtuse angles, or horizontally, from the 

 trunk, within two or three feet of the ground. Bark black and rough 

 below. Growing near the margin of Clear Lake, on a point above 

 Dr. J. A. Veatch's Rancho. 



A low shrubby species of little value. The leaves are from three 

 to four inches in length, and one-half to two inches in breadth, resem- 

 blins; the leaf of the common chestnut, Castanea edulis. 



Only one tree is known to us. The acorns are about one inch long, 

 not very abundant. 



December 2, 1859. 



President in the Chair. 



Dr. Kellogg exhibited a drawing of a new species of HJiamnus, to 

 which the attention of the Academy was drawn nearly two years 

 since ; but the description was deferred, in hopes of obtaining the 

 flowers. The long time which has elapsed since the first presentation 

 of the drawing and specimens, is the apology offered for the present 



