CHAP. CV. 



CORYI.A CEJE. QUE KCUS. 



1748 



The difterence in the leaves 

 1583., which represents Q. pe- 



of 1 in. to 39 ft. ; and to ^g. 

 1585. and^^. 1586., portraits of 

 two of the largest trees of Q. 

 sessiliflora in the same park, 

 drawn to the same scale, and by 

 the same artist. The difference 

 in aspect, however, both when 

 the trees are clothed, and when 

 they have lost their leaves is considerable 

 will be rendered obvious by comparing Jig. 



dunculata, with /g. 1584., which represents Q. sessiliflora. The branches 

 and spray of Q. sessiliflora are somewhat less tortuous and gnarled than 

 those of Q. pedunculata ; the bark is whiter, the shoots of the year rather 

 thicker, and the buds decidedly larger. Q. pedunculata comes rather earlier 

 into leaf than Q. sessiliflora : the flowers appearing in the former in the 

 beginning of May, and the fruit ripening in the beginning of October ; while 

 in the latter the flowers appear in the middle of May, and the fruit ripens 

 in November. The leaves of Q. sessiliflora are said by some to be more fre- 

 quently retained on the tree through the winter than those of Q. pedunculata ; 

 and hence, it is alleged, the German name of winter eiche for the former, and 

 sommer eiche for the latter : but Willdenow truly observes that trees may 

 frequently be found among both species which retain their leaves, in a withered 

 state, during the winter. The taproots in both, when young, and in good, 

 deep, loamy or sandy, soil, have been traced to a depth nearly as great as the 

 height of tiie tree. {Hanbury and Marshall.) The lateral roots do not run 

 so near the surface of the ground as those of many other kinds of trees, 

 unless the soil is thin and bad. They may sometimes be found several feet 

 under ground, attaining a great thickness, and extending to a much greater 

 length than the branches. The roots of the British oaks never throw up 

 suckers. The rate of growth of the two species does not appear to be very 



5 X 



