38 TEEES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



42. Castanea pumila (L.) Mill. Chinquapin. 



A small tree or shrub of upland hillsides from near 

 the coast to an elevation of about 3000 feet in the 

 mountains. Only one nut is borne in the burr and 

 the leaves are whitish-velvety beneath. Dates of 

 flowering: July 3, 1884; about July 1, 1908; May 

 25, 1909; May 28, 1916. Examples: trees at top of 

 Lone Pine Hill. 



In sandy woods of the lower coastal plain there is 

 a smaller species of Chinquapin (C. nana Muhl.), 

 which springs from underground runners. We have 

 found it at La Grange, Lenoir County. It is included 

 in Curtis' list, but is not extended north of Georgia in 

 Small's Flora. 



43. Quercus alba L. White Oak. 



One of our most common and finest oaks ; a large 

 spreading tree with light bark and foliage, light green 

 glabrous leaves with regular rounded lobes, and long 

 ovate acorns of varying size in a shallow cup. In the 

 Piedmont and lower mountains it is very common 

 and is our finest oak, magnificent in cultivation; in 

 the coastal plain it is confined to the neighborhood of 

 creeks and rivers. The wood is very strong and 

 tough and is highly valued for many purposes. In 

 Chapel Hill the white oak reaches a circumference of 

 18 feet at 5 feet from the ground (Prof. Howell's 

 yard: around the buttressed base, one foot from 

 the ground, this oak measures 29 feet). We have 

 measured the Old Wilson oak at Smith's Grove, 



