Quercus I2 97 



QUERCUS SEMECARPIFOLIA 



Quercus semecarpifolia, Smith, in Rees, Cyclop, xxix. No. 20 (1819); Hooker, Ft. Brit. India, v. 601 

 (1888); Skan, in Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxvi. 520 (1899); Gamble, Man. Indian Timbers, 

 671 (1902); Brandis, Indian Trees, 625 (1906). 



Quercus obtusifolia, Don, Prod. Ft. Nepal. 56 (1825). 



Quercus Cassura, Don, Prod. Ft. Nepal. 57 (1825). 



A tree, occasionally attaining in the Himalayas 100 ft. in height and 18 ft. in 

 girth, usually considerably smaller. Young branchlets with scattered stellate 

 pubescence. Leaves (Plate 338, Fig. 53) coriaceous, subevergreen, falling a 

 month or two before the new leaves appear, very variable in size and margin ; 

 averaging 3 in. long and 2 in. broad ; usually elliptical ; rounded or rarely acute at 

 the apex ; cordate or rarely rounded at the base ; margin on old trees undulate- 

 entire, on young trees with spine-tipped serrations or teeth ; lateral nerves six to 

 ten pairs, forking before reaching the margin ; upper surface dark green, with 

 scattered stellate pubescence, retained on the midrib, soon deciduous elsewhere ; 

 lower surface pale, with scattered fine stellate pubescence ; petiole T ^ to \ in., 

 stellate-pubescent. 



Fruit ripening in the second year, solitary or in pairs, on a short stout 

 pubescent peduncle ; acorns globose or ovoid, enclosed at the base in a hemi- 

 spherical cupule, about \ in. in diameter, and covered with closely appressed 

 tomentose scales. 



This species, which has holly-like leaves, is readily distinguished from Q. Ilex 

 by the subevergreen leaves, which have lateral veins always forked before reaching 

 the margin. 



It is a native of the Himalayas from Kumaon to Bhutan and Munnipore, 

 occurring at altitudes of 6000 to 12,000 ft. ; and also occurs in the mountains of China, 

 in the provinces of Szechwan and Yunnan. Though mentioned by Loudon ' as one 

 of the Himalayan oaks worthy of a trial in this country, it appears not to have been 

 introduced till lately. Mr. Gamble has raised two plants from acorns received in 

 1900 from Chakrata in the north-west Himalaya at 9000 ft. These have thriven in 

 his garden at East Liss, Hants, and seem perfectly hardy, their present height 

 being 10 ft. and 15 ft. (A. H.) 



1 Arb. et Frut. Brit. iii. 1935 (1838). 



2 Q 



