CHAP. CV. 



COUYI-A CE.E, QVE RCUS. 



1873 



They are somewhat wedge- ^^ 



shaped, and are deeply den- 4t\ /h 



tated with l)liint lobe-like ts.vN >/ ., 



teeth from the summit to 

 the base. The acorns are 

 of a bright clear brown, 

 oval, and larger than those 

 of any other kindof Ameri- 

 can oak, except Q. macro, 

 carpa : they are borne on 

 very short peduncles, and 

 are contained in shallow 

 scaly cups : they are sweet, 

 and are sometimes pro- 

 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 f/'lmus americana and U. alata, MagnohVj 

 grandiflora and M. tripetala, 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 Q. macrocarpa, though it is superior to the wood of the 

 American oaks comprised in the division Rubrae. 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 13 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., 

 andour/g. 1736., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. P. monticola Michx. f I. 

 N. Amer. Syl., i. p. 49. t. 9., Q. montana Willd. Sp. PL, iv. p. 440., 

 Pursh Fl. Amer. Sej)t., ii. p. 634., N. Dii Ham., v'li. p. 165., Smith in 

 Rees's CycL, No. 49., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836 ; Q. Prinus Smith in Abb. 

 Ins. ofGeor., 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 

 6 F 2 



