106 Urticaceae 



*- *- Acorns developing the second year. 



5. 0,. chrysolepis Liebm. (Canyon Oak.) Usually a large 

 tree ; leaves evergreen, oblong, acute or cuspidate, obtuse or sub- 

 cordate at base, usually entire or spinose-denticulate, pale and 

 glaucous green above, more or less fulvous-tomentose beneath, 

 becoming glabrate in age; acorns variable in size; nut oval, 

 obtuse, 15-30 mm. long; cup hemispheric, very thick, its scales 

 usually almost hidden by fulvous tomentum, 1-3 cm. broad 



Common in the canyons of all our mountains above 2500 feet. 



** Stigmas on long styles; nuts densely tomentose on the inner sur- 

 face; scales of the deep cup thin. Black Oak. 



6. Q. agrifolia Nee. (Live Oak, Encina.) Large, widely 

 spreading tree; leaves persistent, oval to oblong, 4-7 cm. long, 

 sinuately spinose-dentate, somewhat stellate pubescent when 

 young, in age mostly convex above, pale and nearly glabrous 

 beneath; acorns annual, sessile or nearly ao; nut narrow and 

 tapering, 2-3 cm. long, 6-8 mm. wide; cup turbinate, rather 

 deep with lanceolate slightly pubescent brown scales. 



The common oak of our valleys and foothills. 



7. Q. Wislizeni A. DC. A spreading shrub or a small tree 

 with us; leaves persistent, coriaceous, lanceolate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acute, entire or somewhat spinose-dentate, usually 

 plain, green on both faces, glabrous; acorns biennial; nuts nar- 

 row as in the last ; cup turbinate, very deep. 



Frequent in the chaparral belt of all our mountains except the Santa 

 Monica Range. 



Q. CALIFORNICA (Torr.) Cooper. A middle-sized tree with large 

 deeply toothed deciduous leaves ; fruit developing the second year ; 

 cups deep, with thin scales. 



Common in the pine belt of the San Bernardino, San Jacinto and Cuya- 

 maca Mountains. 



Family 19. URTICACEAE. NETTLE FAMILY. 



Ours annual or perennial herbs, with mostly stipulate, 

 simple leaves and often with stinging hairs. Flowers in 

 racemed or panicled cymes (ament-like), with small 

 persistent bracts, monoecious or polygamous, small, 



