78 TREES GROWING NEAR WATER. 



should go to the region of the Great Lakes. When its identity 

 is once known it is not easily forgotten, or confused with other 

 trees. The manner in which its lower bark separates into thin 

 scales and the little weird branches that are so often pendulous 

 from larger limbs and sometimes from the trunk make it a 

 marked figure on even a winter's landscape. From its leaves 

 it is known as belonging to the group of chestnut oaks, as in 

 outline they somewhat resemble those of the chestnut tree. 



The wood of the swamp white oak is light brown, closely 

 grained and strong. Commercially it is not distinguished from 

 that of the white oak, Q. alba, and of the burr oak, Q. tnacrocarpa. 

 Pages 188 and 132 respectively. 



WILLOW OAK. PEACH-LEAVED OAK. (Plate XXIX) 

 Quircus Phellos. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Beech. Conical head; y>2>ofeet. L. I. and N. J. southward April, May. 



branches, slender. " and westward. Fruit: Sept., Oct. 



Bark : reddish brown; almost smooth, although having close scales. Leaves: 

 simple; alternate; with short grooved petioles; lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 

 with pointed and bristle-tipped apex and pointed base ; entire and slightly un- 

 dulate edge. When young, brilliant light green and soft above, dull and with a 

 whitish down underneath ; becoming thick and shiny above as they grow 

 older. Flowers; monoecious. Acorns: very small; almost sessile. Cup ; 

 saucer-shaped; pubescent inside. Nut: brown; three-eighths to one-half inch 

 long; globular. Kernel: bright orange ; bitter. 



There seems to be nothing about the foliage of this attractive 

 tree to suggest to us the family to which it belongs ; but along 

 with the autumn comes the little tell-tale, the acorn. No doubt 

 there is lurking within it a strong sense of grace and outline, 

 or perhaps a sort of hero-worship for the willows has led it to 

 imitate their leaf. But in any case we cannot believe that it 

 laments having stepped out of the beaten track of its relatives ; 

 as its aspect is most gay and happy. In the southern towns it 

 is much planted for ornament and has besides its beauty the 

 advantage of growing rapidly. Its leather-like leaves remain 

 fresh long after those of most other trees have fallen. They 



