Handbook of Tkees of the >.' 



AND Canada. 1 



The Chinquapin is a small tree and is otten 

 found fruiting in abundance as a shrub. 

 Under favorable conditions it attains the 

 height of 4U or 51) ft. and a trunk diameter of 

 2 or 3 ft., but tliese dimensions are rare. 

 Wlien isolated it develops a low broad rounded 

 tup. similar to that of tlic L'licslmit. but nnudi 

 smaller. It iidiabits dry iiillsi.k's and uplands 

 as well as rich bottom-lands and. like the 

 Chestnut, is of greatest beauty when in early 

 summer, after the close of the liowering season 

 of nearly all other trees, it puts out its numer- 

 ous fragrant yellow catkins. In September its 

 well-guarded fruit, which it produces in abun- 

 dance, is ripe and liberated, and this, though 

 a small nut, is tlelicious in llavor and is oc- 

 casion.illy gathered for market. 



The wood is similar to that of the Chestnut 



\\ith very thin sa])-\\ood, a cui)ic foot, when 



absolutely dry, weighing ;36.09 lbs., and is used 



for fence posts, railway ties, etc.i 



Leaves narrow-oblong, .S-.5 in. long, mostly aciitp 

 at apex, narrowed and wedge-shaped or rounded at 

 base, coarsely serrate with slender pointed teeth, 

 tomentoso at first, at maturity glabrous dark green 

 above, whitish tomentose beneath : petioles short 

 stout and branchlcts the first season pubescent. 

 Floirrrs (.Tune-.Tuly ) : staminate aments 2-6 in. 

 long, hoary-tomentose : pistillate flowers at the 

 bases of the upper androgynous aments, sessile or 

 nearly so. Fndt: involucres 1-1 14 in. in diameter, 

 commonly in spike-like clusters, densely crowded 

 with slender sharp spines outside, opening gen- 

 erally by 2 or 3 valves and contnining a sinule 

 round-ovoid lustrous dark brown nut pointed and 

 white-pubescent at apex, V>-% I"- long and con- 

 taining a lartre sweet seed naked at apex with 

 scars of abortive ovules. 



