40 WEST AMERICAN OAKS. 



Sierra Nevada ; the low bush of the higher elevations being doubtless a distinct species 

 {Q. vacciniifolia, Kell.). 



Remarks. Professor Sargent speaks of the present species as being "An evergreen 

 tree of great economic value. * Wood heavy, very strong and hard, tough, close- 



grained, compact, difficult to work. * * * Somewhat used in the manufacture of 

 agricultural implements, wagons, etc.; the most valuable oak of the Pacific forests'." 



The tree is known by the common name of Maul Oak; also, like any of our ever- 

 green oaks, it is often called Live Oak. Mr. Bolander, in his interesting notes published 

 in the third volume of California Academy proceedings, proposed for it the very suitable 

 name of Drooping Live Oak. 



Although quite widely dispersed, it is the scarcest of all our oaks, at least in its large- 

 arboreal development. There are no forests or groves of this species, but solitary trees 

 occur here and there, mostly in ravines and gulches, or on cool northward slopes of the 

 more elevated hills of the redwood region. Fruit of it has seldom been found, except in 

 its smaller and more prevalent forms ; and these forms are in need of more careful obser- 

 vation and study than has yet been given them. No doubt a number of very well marked 

 varieties, or subspecies in want of names and faithful descriptions, are included under 

 this one specific name, in our books and catalogues. 



Neither Dr. Kellogg's drawing, nor the earlier plate in the fifth volume of Pacific 

 Railroad Reports, shows that peculiar variety of cup in which the scales are hidden by a 

 dense close coat of yellow tomentum. The form alluded to appears to be common in the 

 southern portions of California, and will very likely prove indicative of a more than 

 varietal divergence from the type of Q. chrysolepis. 



' U. S. Forestry Report, p. 146. 



