315 



Minnesota, and Iowa. It was the principal tree of the oak openings of 

 the West, which have nearly disappeared under the advance of cultiva- 

 tion. It extends spariugly into the Eastern States, being found in 

 Western New York and in Western Massachusetts. It has its common 

 name from the peculiar fringe of the cup, made by an elongation of the 

 scales or modified leaves of which the cup is composed. The acorn is 

 usually nearly and sometimes completely inclosed by the cup with its 

 mossy fringe, hence it is sometimes called the overcup-oak. 



2. Southern overcup-oak — Quercus Jtjrata, Walt. — This species is com- 

 mon in the Southern States. Chapman says, " Florida to North Caro- 

 lina." Dr. Cooper extends its range to Louisiana and Mississippi. But 

 inasmuch as it has recently been detected in Southern Illinois, it is 

 probable that it is more extensively distributed than has been supposed. 

 There is reason to believe that it will be one of the most valuable of 

 the genus for cultivation. It has a large depressed acorn, mostly in- 

 closed in the cup, which is not fringed on the edge. The leaves are from 

 5 to 10 inches long, rather crowded at the end of the twigs, bright 

 green and shining above, and whitish on the under side. 



3. Post-oak — Quercus steUata, Wang. — This is the Quercus obtusiloba 

 of Michaux. It is usually a smallish tree, of very dense wood, which is 

 especially valuable for posts. Its range is very extensive, being found 

 in most of the States east of the Eocky Mountains, but the quantity is 

 limited, except in certain localities. In some of the Western States it 

 occupies large tracts of low land, which are called post-oak flats. 



4. White-oak — Quercus alha, L. — This tree is probably more widely 

 distributed than any other native tree, occurring, undoubtedly, in every 

 State of the district mentioned. It is too well known to need any i^ar- 

 ticular description. 



Clusfitiit-oals. — Leaves toothed but not lobed. 



5. Chestnut-oak — Quercus prinus, L. — There is yet some confusion 

 respecting the Chestnut-oak. Michaux made but one species with five 

 varieties, but most botanists hold these, or several of them, to be dis- 

 tinct species. There is yet room for much investigation respecting them. 

 The species we have named is called by Chapman the swamp chestnut- 

 oak, from its growing in low grounds. Dr. Gray says, "Dry or moist 

 ground, common southward, scarce northward.*' 



6. Swamp white-oak — Quercus hicolor, Willd. — This is the Quercus 

 prinus; var. discolor of Michaux. It has rather large obovate leaves, 

 narrowed at the base, whitish downy underneath ; with large acorns one 

 inch long or more, which are long stalked and about half inclosed in the 

 cui^, which is sometimes a little fringed on the margin. It is quite a com- 

 mon tree on low grounds and river bottoms. 



7. Yellow chestnut-oak — Quercus Castanea, Muhl. — This is a smaller 

 tree than the j)receding, growing on more elevated land, frequently on 

 hill-sides and rocky ground. Its leaves much resemble those of the 

 chestnut, {Castanea vesca.) The acorns are only about half the size of 

 the swami) white-oak, and not stalked. It is quite widely distributed 

 over the country, from Maine to Georgia, and on the west to Missouri 

 and Arkansas, but quite sparingly in quantity. 



8. Chiucapin-oak — Quercus prmoides, Willd. — This is a shrub from 2 

 to 6 feet high, with leaves closely resembling in form those of Q. prinus 

 but much smaller. It produces an abundance of small sweetish acorns, 

 and is usually found on poor land. It is common in the New England 

 States, and extends southward to Florida, and westward to Wisconsin, 



