CUPULIFERi^ 



base, thin, deep green above, pale shining green beneath, glabrous both surfaces, 

 small tufts of tomentum in axils of prominent veins underside, lobes ovate- 

 acute, sinuses deep, round, few very acuminate bristly-pointed serratures, 6 ins. 

 long, 4 ins. broad ; petioles long, slender. Autumn tints bright purplish-red, 

 purplish underneath. 



A deciduous tree, 80 ft. ; dense-headed, pyramidal when young ; Branches 

 when older spreading and drooping, secondary branches numerous, smooth, 

 slender, densely intermingled, giving the appearance of many pins ; Bark 

 smooth when young, scarcely corked when old ; IVood used for furniture. 



Native of N. America, in marshy places ; introduced 1800. Known as Pin 

 Oak. 



BRITISH OAK, Quercus pedunctilata. 



Woods on clay soils. April, JNIay. Thrives best in deep fresh soil and 

 abundance of light. The British Oak is the emblem of majesty, strength, and 

 durability. 



Floivers monoecious, anemophilous, proterogynous, appearing as leaf-buds 

 open ; 3Iale catkim pendant, 2-3 ins. long ; Floicers isolated, sessile ; Perianth 

 4-7-lobed, yellowish-green, ciliate ; Stamens 4-12, sulphur-yellow; Females 

 inserted singly or in groups on long stalks, in axils of uppermost leaves ; 

 Invohicre of small reddish bracts ; Pcriantli 3-8-toothed ; Ovary 3-celled, 

 stigmas 3, short, spreading, red ; Fruit a glans (acorn), oblong, cupule imbri- 

 cated, scales triangular-ovate, very numerous, small, peduncle 16 ins. long; 

 acorns seldom produced till after sixty years. 



Leaves alternate, oblong-obovate, shortly petiolate or sub-sessile, auricled at 

 base, sinuses rather acute, lobes obtuse, downy beneath when young, glabrous 

 when old, coriaceous, 3-6 ins. long, 1-2| ins. broad ; withered leaves frequently 

 retained till spring, especially yoiuig trees. Autumn tints golden, russet, bronze 

 or red. 



A deciduous tree, 60-130 ft. ; Branches spreading, tortuous, running liori- 



zontally, breaking out at right angles ; Shoots glabrous ; Buds brown, crowded, 



163 1' 2 



