354 



BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



[MAY 



FIG. 2.Q. alba. 



somewhat unsymmetrical, two or three being close together and sepa- 

 rated by narrow sinuses, the others are more widely separated and the 

 sinuses are correspondingly wider and deeper. This appearance is 

 often due to tearing in mounting, but the natural lobing may be deter- 

 mined by tracing the cilia along the margin. The lobes are ovate to 

 lanceolate and obtuse. One of 

 the lobes is frequently somewhat 

 broader than the others, and once 

 or twice notched near the apex. 

 The midrib is distinct and extends 

 a little over one third of the length 



of each lobe. The perianth is 

 FIG. I. Q. acuminata. ., , ^ , . 



pilose, and the hairs are usually 



tinted with red. The bract is persistent, and adheres closely to the 

 flower when the latter is removed from the catkin. This is the only 

 species of this region that does not lose the bract before the maturing 

 of the flower. 



QUERCUS ALBA. The flowers of Q. alba are very symmetrical in 

 outline, thus forming a strong contrast to the preceding species. The 

 perianth is slightly campanulate, thin, delicate, and five or six-lobed. 

 The diameter is 2-3 mm . The lobes are small, broadly oval to ovate, and 

 obtuse. The midrib is prominent and distinct nearly to the apex of 

 the lobes. The perianth is densely pilose, the hairs being long and 

 matted, rendering it difficult to spread the flower without tearing. 



QUERCUS PLATANOIDES. The flowers of Q. platanoides are only 

 about one half the size of those of Q. alba, being i-2 mm , but resemble 

 them closely in other respects. The 

 texture of the perianth is thicker. It 

 is rotate rather than campanulate, 

 and forms a flat six-lobed disk at 

 the base of the stamens. The lobes 

 are broadly oval to ovate, and sepa- 

 rated by broad and obtuse sinuses. 

 The midrib is distinct nearly to the nus - 



apex of each lobe. The perianth is pilose, but the hairs are not so 

 thickly matted as in Quercus alba. 



QUERCUS PRINUS. The perianth of Q. Prinus is small, thin, and 

 deeply lobed. The diameter is from 2-2. 5 mm . It resembles the flowers 

 of Q. alba, but the sinuses are much deeper and narrower, and the 



FIG. 3. 0. plata- 



FIG. 4. Q. Pri- 



