040 Obdeb 119.— CUPULIFER^E. 



It is a lofty tree, arising to the height of 50f, with its undivided, straight and uni- 

 form trunk, and thence with its expansive top to the height of 80 to 90f. Acorns 

 large and sweet. Ped. 3 to 6'' long, acorn 12 to 15". The timber valuable. (Q. 

 prinu3 palustris Mx.) 

 /?. monticola. Rock Chestnut Oak. Lvs. glaucous beneath ; nut oblong- 

 ovate, about a third covered by the cup. — In mountain woods. 



21 Q. bfcolor Willd. Swamp White Oak. Lvs. oblong-ovate, downy, whit© 

 underneath, with large, irregular teeth above, somewhat sinuate-lobed in the middle, 

 subentire below, on very short petioles ; acorns on long peduncles, in pairs, cup 

 hemispherical, with pointed scales, nut oblong-ovoid. — In low, swampy woods, 

 U. S. It is a beautiful tree, attaining, in favorable situations, the height of 70f. 

 Foliage rich and luxuriant ; lvs. smooth and green above, white-downy beneath, 

 6 to 7' by 2 £ to 4'. Ped. 1 to 2' long. The trunk bark grayish-white, dividing 

 into largo, flat scales. It affords excellent fuel and timber (Q. prinus dis- 

 color Mx.) 



22 Q. castanea Muhl. Chestnut Oak. Lvs. long-petioled, lance-oval or lance- 

 obovate, acuminate downy and glaucous-hoary beneath, with coarse, subequaL 

 acute and submucronate teeth ; acorn nearly sessile, cup hemispherical, covering 

 about a third of the roundish-ovoid, light brown nut. — Mid., S. and W. States, in 

 rocky or saody soils. A large tree, 40 to GOf high, with a whitish, furrowed 

 bark. Lvs. 4 to 6' long, more nearly resembling the chestnut leaf than any other 

 oak. Acorns about 9" long, sweet-flavored. Timber little used. May. 



23 Q. prinoidea Willd. Dwarf Chestnut Oak. Shrub with lvs. on short 

 petioles, obovate, acute at the base, glaucous beneath, with large, subequal, sin- 

 uate teeffi, callous at the tip ; cup hemispherical, acorn ovate. — This is one of the 

 most diminutive of all the oaks, never exceeding 3 to 4f in height. It is a native 

 of the N. and Mid. States, in barren woods, but not common. The flowers ap- 

 pear in May, followed by acorns of middle size, very sweet and very abundant. 



2. CASTA V NEA, Tourn. Chestnut. (Castanea was a city in Thes- 

 saly, famed for the growth of chestnuts.) $ Flowers clustered in long, 

 slender, cylindric aments ; calyx 5 to G-parted; stamens 5 to 15. $ 

 Flowers in 3s, inclosed in a 4-lobed involucre, which in fruit becomes 

 coriaceous and beset with prickles ; calyx 5 to 6-lobed, tube adherent 

 to the 3 to 6-celled, 3 to 6-ovuled ovary; stamens 5 to 12, abortive; 

 stigmas as many as the cells; fruit a 4-valved involucre enclosing 1 to 3 

 one-seeded nuts. — Trees and shrubs. Lvs. mostly deciduous, alternate, 

 acuminate, expanding before the flowers. 



1 C. vesca L. Lvs. oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, mucronately serrate, smooth both 

 tides ; nuts mostly 2 or 3 together. — Abundant in particular districts throughout 

 the U. S. It is a lofty tree in woods, with a large, straight trunk. Lvs. 6 to 9' 

 long, 4, as wide ; teeth mucronate, with the prolonged, straight veins. Aments 

 as long as the leaves, and so numerous as to impart their yellowish hue to the 

 whole tree when in blossom. Nuts of a peculiar brown, villous above, enclosod in 

 the enlarged cupule or burr which is beset on all sides with strong, compound, 

 acute spines. Timber coarse-grained, strong, elastic, light and very durable. 

 July, fruit in Oct. — The nuts are smaller but sweeter than those of the European 

 variety (the Spanish Chestnut). 



2 C. pumila Michx. Chinquapin. Lvs. oblong, ovate or obovate, mucronate-ser- 

 rate, hoary-tomentous beneath ; nut solitary* — Sterile places, N. J., Penn. to Ga, 

 and Tenn. Shrub 6 — 12f high, much branched. Leaves 3 — 5' by 1J — 2', smooth 

 above, generally obtuse at base, acute at apex, margins mucronate, with the pro- 

 jecting, straight veinlets ; petioles G' long ; under surface nearly white. Aments 

 axillary, the lower staminate, 6 — 10" long, upper fertile, with remote, pistillate 

 flowers. Involucre of fruit bristly and prickly, 4-lobed. Nut (by abortion) soli- 

 tary, small, ovoid, sweet. FL Jn. Fr. Oct. 



3. FA V GUS, Tourn. Beech. (Gr. fp^ydg, the beech ; it also signifies 

 something eatable.) <5 Flowers in a capitate ament suspended by a 



