THE BKITISH OAK. 39 



produced. They are exceedingly acrid ; this may be 

 much reduced bv bakino-. 



The trees are raised best from acorns. 



(2) The evergreen oak, Q. Ilex. (Plate IV, div. B). 



The natural habitat of this tree is in the southern 

 parts of Europe. 



It bears an abundance of leaves which are dark 

 bluish-green on the upper-surface and covered with 

 greyish pubescence on the under-surface. 



The tree is an evergreen. The shape of the leaf is 

 mostly ovate, terminating with a sharp point. The 

 margins ma}- be entire, or serrated, and sometimes 

 prickly, when it has much the appearance of the 

 holly, a resemblance which has caused it to be named 

 Quercus Ilex, or the " holm oak." 



The vouno- shoots are as remarkable for their lie^lit 

 hue as the full-o-rown tree is for the characteristic 

 sombreness of its foliage. 



The acorns are on short peduncles, and oblong in 

 shape ; sometimes sweet and bitter acorns are pro- 

 duced on the same tree, but it is usual for a tree to 

 bear either all sweet or all bitter. 



In early life the tree grows very rapidly, but after a 

 few years much more slowly. In warmer climates 

 than England it attains a height of 80 or 90 feet, and 

 lives to a great age. It has a great partiality for sea- 

 air, and it thrives well along the sea coasts of England, 

 especially in the south. It can bear the rough south- 

 west gales without injury. 



The colour of the wood is dark brown, very hard, 

 close grained, durable and flexible. 



