696 



MONOECIA TRIANDRIA 



toothed or angled on the young, frequently obtuse. Aments of sterile florets 

 small, fertile florets very numerous. Fruit oval, nearly black, mucronate, 



pedunculate, generally in pairs. , , , , . , r .r. 



The timber of this oak is perhaps the most valuable that is known lor the 

 purposes of naval architecture. Its fibre is compact, heavy, strong, and du- 

 rable, twisted so as to split with difficulty, and hardening with age or on ex- 

 posure to weather. The natural curvature of the branches is in general pre- 

 cisely such as the timbers of a ship require, so that the strength of the wood 

 may, with a little care, be entirely preserved. It is also used in machines, 

 for the fellows of cog wheels, and in general wherever strength and durability 

 are required, and where its weight and crookedness form no objection. Its 

 bark is excellent for the use of the Tanner, and its smaller branches are gen- 

 erally used for fuel, and constitute in fact the best firewood in our country. 



This tree is now becoming scarce in the forests, as the soil and situation 

 in which it naturally grows, is that peculiarly adapted for the cultivation oi 

 the Sea-Island Cotton. It is only seen in perfection m old fields, or as an 

 mental tree near buildings, or on the margins of islands or points oi 



lands projecting into salt water. It is much to be regretted, that residents 

 on the Sea-Islands do not plant avenues of this noble tree along the roaas 

 leading up to their houses, as a means not only of preserving and eventually 

 increasing the supply of timber, but of adding embellishments to situations, 

 which have frequently all the beauties that water and wood can give to tne 

 scenery of a level country. We perhaps want the variety which cultivation 

 even in its most regular aspect can bestow. All, however, who have seen 

 the fine avenues of Live Oak near Dorchester, will acknowledge, that tJiey 

 would add magnificence to any landscape. . e 



Grows along the sea coast, often flourishing luxuriantly when a portion 



its roots are washed by the salt water at a very high tide. 

 Flowers and sheds a portion of its leaves in April. 



5. Maritima. Willd. 



Q. foliis pereniianti- 



Leaves 



pel 



•e 



r 



nnial 



bus, coriaceis, !anceola- coriaceous 



lanceolate 





} 



integerrirais, gla- entire, glabrous, taper- 

 basi attenuatis, I ing at base, acute ai 



the summit, mucronate. 



nut oval. 



tis 



bris, 



apice acutis, mucrona 



lis: nuce ovali. 



V 



Sp. pi. 4. p. 424. Pursh, 2. p. 625. Nuit. 2. p. 214 



Q 



Q 



A shrub' 4—10 feet high^ growing along the sea coast 



(often siniiately toothed, smootl 

 ) on very short petiofes. Nut 



hearts oblofig- 



Cup pedunculate. 



This species has always appeared to me to 

 Virens. Its acorn is similar in ghapej but lar 



be most nearly aUied to tlic 



Q. 



A. 



