THE NATURE BOOK 



still lighter bv thick growth of silvery 

 lichen. The ticigs are comparatively short 

 and stout, usually brownish. The resting 

 buds are spirally arranged, becoming 

 crowded and clustered at the tips of the 

 twigs. Thev are thick-set, and stand, on 

 projecting bases, well out from the twig. 



TKL.NK AND BAKK OF OAK. 



Th('\' are brown in colour, showing 

 numerous protecting scales. The scaf, 

 where the previous leaf was attached, 

 is somewhat shield-shape, having three 

 sets of clustered traces where the leaf- 

 tubes have been severed. 



The leaves are oval in general outline, 

 narrowing towards the base ; but the 

 general outline is deeply indented, making 

 six U) eight well-marked, rounded divi- 

 sions. The midrib ])asses direct to the 

 apex ; the side ribs branch altern- 

 ately and pass to the farthest away 

 curves of the divided ma.rgin of the leaf. 

 The stalks of the leaves, if any, are very 

 short. 



The j)ollcn-bearing and the fruit-pro- 

 ducing /lowers gr(nv on the same tree, 



but are distinct. The 

 jiollen - bearing flowers 

 begin to emerge before 

 the leaves, but as they 

 expand the leaves also 

 appear. Presently they 

 hang down as clusters 

 of catkins, 2 to 3 inches 

 in length, like strings 

 with unevenly-threaded 

 golden beads. Later, 

 and higher up on the 

 young gi'owing twig, at 

 the junction of leaves 

 and twig, appear the 

 small stiff catkins of 

 fruit-producing flowers. 

 These are in shape like 

 short erect spikes, hav- 

 ing on them from four 

 to six projections of pin- 

 head size, which are 

 the flowers. The pollen 

 is carried from the pol- 

 len - bearing flowers to 

 the fruit -producing 

 flowers by the wind's 

 agency. 



The well known friiii 

 of the Oak is the oval- 

 shaped acorn in its em- 

 bossed cup, attached, 

 two or more, to a con- 

 siderable stalk, the out- 

 growth of the short erect spike which 

 carried the fruit-producing flowers. When 

 ripe the brown fruit falls, leaving the cup 

 still attached to the twig. 



There are two varieties of the Common 

 Oak. The one, as described above, has 

 stalked fruit-producing flowers and stalked 

 fruits. It is named accordingly the " pe- 

 dunculate," or stalked. 

 Oak, and is the com- 

 monest of Oaks in the 

 Midlands and South. Its 

 leaves are practically 

 stalkless. The other has 

 stalkless fruit - produc- 

 ing flowers and stalk- 

 less fruits ; these " sit," 

 as it were, (sessile), 

 close down upon the 

 twigs, and so this is 

 distinguished as the leaf scar 



"Sessile" Oak. Its of oak. 



TWIG AND 



RESTING BUDS 



OF OAK. 



