CHAP. CV. CORYLA CEE. QUE’RCUS. 1873 
They are somewhat wedge- 
shaped, and are deeply den- 
tated with blunt lobe-like 
teeth from the summit to 
* the base. The acorns are 
of a bright clear brown, SX\\\\\)\ . 
oval, and larger than those @--\\"}|¥)) 
of any other kindof Ameri- €@= ii, & 
can oy except Q. macro. \ 
carpa: they are borne on —_— am 
very short peduncles, and 
are contained in shallow 
scaly cups : they are sweet, 
and are sometimes pro- 1735 
duced in great abundance. The swamp chestnut oak is found occa- _ 
sionally within’a few miles of Philadelphia; but it is in the greatest 
abundance in the maritime parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and East 
Florida. It grows only in the large swamps which border the rivers, 
or that are enclosed in the forests, and “always in spots that are rarely 
inundated, and where the soil is loose, deep, constantly cool, and luxu- 
riantly fertile.” (V. Amer, Syl.) In the Carolinas and Georgia, it is 
usually accompanied by U’Imus americana and U. alata, Magnolia 
grandiflora and M. tripétala, the beech, poplar, hickory, &c.” It was 
the first of the chestnut oaks observed by European botanists, 
being supposed to be that described and figured by Plukenet in 1691, 
and by Catesby in 1731. There appears, however, some discre- 
pancy between their descriptions; Plukenet stating that his oak had 
red veins to the leaves, which Catesby says his oak had not. It was 
introduced before 1730, as it was included in the catalogue of the 
gardeners published in that year (see p. 68.); and it was one of 
the oaks stated by Catesby to be, in his time, “ growing at Mr. Fair- 
child’s.” There are trees of this oak at Messrs. Loddiges’s, and in 
the Horticultural Society’s Garden. The wood of this tree is 
considered, in America, to be inferior to that of Q. alba, Q. obtusiloba, 
and even @. macrocarpa, though it is superior to the wood of the 
American oaks comprised in the division Rubra. It is too porous 
for casks to contain wine or spirituous liquors; but it is used by 
wheelwrights, and for other works which require strength and some 
durability. “ As it splits in a straight line, and may be divided into 
fine shreds, it is chosen by the negroes for baskets and brooms.” 
As posts and rails, it will last about 12 or 15 years, which is one 
third longer than the wood of the willow oak will remain unde- 
cayed, when applied to similar purposes. In Georgia, the wood of 
the swamp chestnut oak is considered to make the best fuel. The 
acorns are extremely sweet, and, in the American woods, are 
greedily devoured by deer, cows, horses, and swine. The principal 
merit of the tree, however, according to the younger Michaux, con- 
sists in its noble and majestic appearance, and in the extraordinary 
beauty of its foliage. 
* Q. P. 2 monticola Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., ii. p. 196., Quer., No. 5. t. 7., 
and our fig. 1736., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. P. monticola Miche. fil. 
N. Amer. Syl., i. p. 49. t.9., Q. montana Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p.440., 
Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., ii. p. 634., N. Du Ham., vil. p. 165., Smith in 
Rees’s Cycl., No. 49., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. Prinus Smith in Abb. 
Ins. of Geor., ii. p. 163. t. 82. The Rock Chestnut Oak. — Leaves 
on short footstalks, rhomboid-oval. Fruit rather large; cup top- 
shaped and rough; nut oblong. (Michx.) The beautiful appearance 
of this tree, according to the younger Michaux, “ when growing in a 
fertile soil, is owing equally to the symmetry of its form and the 
6F 2 
