1872 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART 111. 



take. Indeed, the tree of this species in Loddiges's arboretum was upwards 

 of 15ft. high in 1834. Q. lyrata is a native of the southern states of 

 North America ; where, according to the younger Michaux, " it is never seen 

 in the long narrow marshes which intersect the pine barrens, but is found 

 exclusively in the great swamps on the borders of the rivers, which are often 

 overflowed at the rising of the waters, and are inaccessible during three 

 quarters of the year." It is not mentioned by Catesby,and appears to have 

 been first described by Walther, in his Flora Cnroliniana. It was introduced 

 into England in 1786, but is seldom met with in collections. The wood, 

 though inferior to that of the white and post oaks, is more compact than 

 would be supposed from the swampy nature of its native habitat : it will, 

 however, grow on dry soil ; and the elder Michaux states that, even in loose 

 sandy soil, it grew faster than any other oak in his nurseries. (Hist, dot 

 Chimes, No. 3.) The younger Michaux says that " this species is the largest 

 and most highly esteemed among the oaks that grow in wet grounds. The 

 acorns I sent to France, though sown on uplands, have produced flourishing 

 plants, which bear the winter of Paris without injury." (North Amer. Syl. t 

 i. p. 42.) 



iv. Prmus. Chestnut Oaks. 



Sect. Char., $c. Leaves dentate, dying off of a dirty white, or of a yellowish 

 orange. Bark white, rough, and scaly. Fructification annual. Cup im- 

 bricate. Nut oblong, generally large. 



13. Q. PRIMUS L. The Prinus, or Chestnut-leaved, Oak. 



Identification. Lin. Sp. PI., 1413. ; Willd. Sp., 4. p. 439. ; Ait. Hort. Kcw.,5. p. 290. ; N. Du Ham., 

 7. p. 164. ; Michx. Fl. Bor. Amcr., 2. p. 195. 



Spec. Char. y $c. Leaves oblong-oval, more or less pointed, nearly equally 

 toothed. Cup somewhat scaly; nut ovate. (Michx. Fl. Bor. Amcr., ii. 

 p. 195.) Trees, varying in height from 20ft. to 90 ft.; and one of the 

 varieties a low shrub. In the climate of London the trees grow freely, 

 and promise to attain a considerable size. In general form, they are as 

 handsome as any of the American oaks ; but their foliage dies off with very 

 little colour, what there is being generally of a whitish or brownish yellow. 

 Varieties. These are by some authors treated as species; but they are so 

 obviously alike in their leaves and bark from their infancy upwards, that 

 there does not remain a single doubt in our minds of their being only 

 varieties. However, for the sake of those who think otherwise, and also to 

 mark the peculiarities of each variety, we shall give the identifications, 

 synonymes, and descriptions to each. 



Q. P. 1 palustris Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., H. p. 196., Quer., No. 5. t. 6., 

 Lodd. Cat.,ed. 1836; Q. P. palustris Michx. N. Amer. Syl., i. p. 46. 

 t. 8., our Jig. 1735., and the plate of this tree in our last Volume ; 

 Q. Prinos L. Sp. PL, 1413., Willd. Sp. P/., p. 439., Alt. Hwt. 

 Keiv., v. p. 290., Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., ii. p. 633., N. Du Hmn., vii. 

 p. 164., Smith' in Rees's Cycl., No. 47. ; Q. castaneeefdliis, &c., Pluk. 

 Aim., 309., Phyt., t. 54., Cat. Carol., i. t. 18. The Swamp Chestnut 

 Oak, the Chestnut white Oak ; and, near Philadelphia, the white 

 Oak. Leaves on longish footstalks, obovate. Fruit very large. Cup 

 moderately hollow, distinctly scaly. (A. Michx.} This tree, accord- 

 ing to the younger Michaux, is, in the southern states of North 

 America, generally from 80 ft. to 90 ft. high, with a straight trunk, 

 rising clear of branches, and of nearly the same thickness to the 

 height of 50 ft. ; then spreading into a broad tufted head ; and 

 forming altogether one of the most beautiful and majestic trees of 

 the American forests. The leaves of Q. P. palustris are of a shining 

 green above, and whitish and somewhat wrinkled underneath; they 

 have rather long footstalks; and are from 8 in. to 9 in. long, and from 

 4 in. to 5 in. broad; obovate, and terminating in an acute point. 



