128 THE BEECH FAMILY. 



in habit as it is a small tree, bears a leaf perhaps more peculiar in outline than 

 that of any other of the great genus. It is obovate, and spreads broadly above 

 the middle into from three to five short, rounded lobes which are occasionally 

 toothed and bristle-tipped. At maturity these leaves are dark green above, 

 lustrous and smooth, while their undersides have then lost nearly all traces 

 of the rusty pubescence which coated them in younger days. The bark of 

 black Jack is very dark, rough and separates into plates. 



Q. nana, bear or scrub oak, rarely becomes a small tree, but as a shrub it 

 grows closely together and thus forms often an interwoven and extensive 

 growth. Although mostly a northern species it was found by Dr. Small in 

 North Carolina and is known also in Virginia. Its obovate leaves have 

 short petioles and are pinnately three to seven lobed, their apices being 

 toothed and bristle-tipped. While smooth on their upper surfaces they are 

 a dull dark green, and have underneath a thick grey tomentum. The acorns 

 are not very large. 



A. A. Leaves bristle-tipped, mostly entire. 



SHINGLE OAK. {Plate XLIV.) 



Quercus imbricaria. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Beech. Pyya»iidal or z,o-\oo feet. Tennessee and Georgia to April., May. 



oval. Pennsylvania and ivestivard. Fruit: October. 



Bark : dark grey or reddish ; smooth on the young stems and branches, fissured 

 and covered with thick apj^ressed scales. Leaves: oblong or lanceolate-oblong, 

 pointed at the apex and projecting when young the midrib ; rounded at the base 

 or tapering into the petiole ; often one-sided ; mostly entire ; bright green and 

 lustrous above ; paler below and covered with a brownish grey tomentum ; de- 

 ciduous. Flcnoers : yellowish green and appearing with the leaves. Stafninate 

 aments : long and drooping ; pistillate flowers, solitary or a few borne on pubescent 

 peduncles. Acorns: small, maturing the second season. Citp : flat; saucer- 

 shaped with closely appressed scales. Nut : one quarter to one half an inch long; 

 rounded, yellowish brown ; shiny. 



This very beautiful and symmetrical-growing tree was first described by 



Andre Michaux who saw it in the high mountains of the Alleghanies. It 



belongs to the group of entire leaved oaks although frequently on shoots the 



leaves are lobed and resemble in general appearance the willow oak. In 



alluvial soil and where the climate suits it well it becomes very handsome, 



well deserving a place in ornamental planting and especially as it is hardy 



as far northward as Massachusetts. Through its western range it is called 



Jack oak or black Jack although mostly we associate these names with 



Quercus Marylandica. In North Carolina it is also known as the water 



oak. As, however, its coarsely-grained wood is principally used for the 



making of shingles, the very practical name of shingle oak seems to be the 



one which will eventually best designate it to the people. 



