404 CUPULIFER2E. (OAK FAMILY.) 



1. QUERCUS, L. OAK. 



Stcril e flowers clustered in slender and naked drooping catkins, without bracts 

 calyx 6 - 8-parted : stamens 6-12 : anthers 2-celled. Fertile flowers scattered 

 or somewhat clustered, consisting of a 3-celled and 6-ovuled ovary, with a 3- 

 lobed stigma, enclosed by a scaly bud-like involucre which becomes an indurated 

 cup (cupule) around the base of the rounded nut or acorn. Cotyledons remain- 

 ing underground in germination. Flowers greenish or yellowish, the fertile 

 ones inconspicuous. Aments several from the same scaly bud. (The classical 

 Latin name.) All flower in spring, and shed their nuts in October. 

 1. Fruit ripening the first year, mostly peduncled : leaves not bristly-toothed or pointed. 



* Leaves sinuate-lobed or pinnatijid, all pale, whitish, or grayish-downy underneath. 



WHITE OAKS. 



1. Cfc. macrocdrpa, Michx. (B UK-OAK. OVER-CUP or MOSSY-CUP 

 WHITE-OAK.) Leaves obovate or oblong, lyratelg-pinnatifid or deeply sinuate' 

 lobed, irregular, downy or pale beneath ; the lobes sparingly and obtusely toothed, 

 or the smaller ones entire; cup deep, conspicuously imbricated, of hard and thick 

 pointed scales, the upper ones aimed, so as to make a mossy-fringed border ; acorn 

 ovoid (!' - 1^' long), half immersed in or entirely enclosed by the cup. Dry woods, 

 along rivers, &c., W. New England to Wisconsin, Kentucky, and southwest- 

 ward. A handsome, middle-sized tree. Cup very variable, especially in size, 

 from I' to 2' across. 



Var. olivaeformis (Q. olivasformis, Michx.) is plainly a mere state of 

 this (figured by Michaux with unripe or imperfect fruit), with narrower and 

 more deeply lobed leaves, and oblong acorns and cups : growing with the ordi- 

 nary form. 



2. <fc. obtusiloba, Michx. (POST-OAK. ROUGH or Box WHITE- 

 OAK.) Leaves grayish-downy underneath, pale and rough above, thickish. sinuately 

 cut into 5-7 roundish divergent lobes, the upper ones much larger and often 

 1 3-notched ; cup saucer-shaped, naked, about one third the length of the ovoid acorn. 

 (Q. stellata, Willd.) Sandy or sterile soil, from the coast of Massachusetts 

 and from Wisconsin southward. A small tree, with very durable wood. 

 Acorns ^' to f ' long, nearly sessile. 



3. Q. allm, L. (WHITE OAK.) Mature leaves smooth, pale or glaucous 

 underneath, bright green above, obovate-oblong, obliquely and moderately or deeply 

 cut into 3-9 oblong or linear and obtuse mostly entire lobes ; cup hemispherical- 

 saucer-shaped, rough or tubercled at maturity, naked, much shorter titan the ovoid or 

 oblong acorn. Rich woods ; common. A well-known and invaluable large tree. 

 Lobes of the leaves short and broad 3 - 5, or 5 - 9 and narrow. Acorn about 

 1' long ; the kernel sweet and edible. 



* * Leaves coarsely sinuate-toothed, but not lobed, whitish and more or less downy be- 



neath : cup hoary : acorns sweet-tasted. CHESTNUT-OAKS. 



4. Q. Priiilis, L. (SWAMP CHESTNUT-OAK.) Leaves obovate or oblong- 

 obovate, coarsely and somewhat uniformly dentate Avith rounded teeth, downy 

 beneath, glabrous above ; cup hemispherical (either abrupt or with a small top- 

 shaped base), thick, tubercled when old, nearly half or one third the length ot 



