158 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Pale Oak — ( Quercns Douglasii. — Hook and Arr.) 



The pale bloomy green and open foliage distinguishes this tree when 

 seen even from a long distance, and suggests the propriety of the com- 

 mon name of pale oak. The bark of the trunk is also whiter, more 

 finely chinky, even, and regular, than the long acorn or lobe-leaf white 

 oak, ((2- lobuta,) with which it has been strangely enough confounded. 

 It comes out of the ground more like the post oak of the Atlantic slope, 

 {Q. obtusiloba,) and most strikingly resembles it in the flattish top, Avith 

 its somewhat horizontal, stiff knee-like spreading branches, fewer in 

 number than any other oaks; the lesser branchlets are thick, short, stiff', 

 and never pendent. Its locality is also different, choosing alw^xys poor 

 dry hillsides; or, if in valleys, it is where the yellowish cla}^ indicates 

 inferior soil. "When more closely inspected the acorn is found rather 

 short; true, there are some slight variations, but in general the base of 

 the acorn and areolar mark of the cup are broader, the tip or mucro is 

 more obtuse. The open or more shallow bags of the margin of the 

 leaves, and sometimes almost without any lobes, and the wedge-shaped 

 base, all serve to distinguish it. Further details, without a figure guide, 

 would be too obscure for the general reader; let us hope to see it well 

 illustrated some da}'. But now, when we turn to look at the quality of 

 the timber, this is so far superior, that there can be no such thing as 

 mistaking it. We find the bark much thinner, the woody substance very 

 hard and tough, close grained, and well adapted for agricultural and 

 many mechanical purposes. 



This tree has been mistaken for a variety of Q. lobata, as before 

 observed, but we were so well satisfied of its being distinct, that we 

 formerly named it Q. Ramomi, (see first volume Proceedings of California 

 Acadeni}' of Natural Sciences, page 25.) It has also been described as 

 Q. GambeUii, besides two or three others; but the name at our heading 

 has precedence. To our eye this Pacific pale oak seems in all points a 

 perfect representative on this coast of the Atlantic post oak. 



Professor H. N. Bolander, in his notes on this tree, says it is found on 

 "dry easterl}" hillsides, and valleys, on a poor yellowish clay. Santa 

 Posa Yalley, Clear Lake, Searsville, Anderson Valley, San Jose Valley. 

 The exposition and soil agree in all these localities." 



