250 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Geography. — It is found growing in southern New York, New Jersey, and 

 west in the same latitude to the Mississippi ; it is not common in northern 

 New York and New England. 



Etymology. — The specific name, pulustris, is from the Latin word pahistris, 

 hoggy, wet, marshy, alluding to the favorite locality of this species, Avhich 

 is generally found in wet places. This is also indicated in the common 

 names : swamp Spanish oak, water oak, meadow oak. The name pin oak 

 arises from the circumstance that the knots are slender, and sometimes on 

 splitting the wood they draw out, appearing like pins. It on this account 

 splits with diiliculty. 



Use. — Q. palustris is used sparingly in planted grounds for ornament. It 

 forms a beautiful head, and its abundant delicate foliage makes it a rival of 

 the Q. rubra as an ornamental tree. The lumber is coarse and poor, and not 

 as good for fuel as the Q. rubra. The bark of this tree is sometimes used in 

 tanning. 



10. Q. Phellos, L. (Willow-leaved Oak ) Trunk 30 to 60 feet in height, 

 straight, 10 to 20 inches in diameter. Bark smooth and thick. Leaves light- 

 green, about 4 inches long, and 1 to 2 inches wide ; linear-lanceolate, pointed ; 

 when young toothed ; light-green. Acorn subglobose ; cup, saucer-shaped. 



Var. sylvatica, Mx. Leaves on the young tree lobed. 



Var. latifolius, Lodd. Leaves like those of var. sylvatica, but broader. 



There are several other forms, all shrubs. 



Geography. — It abounds in southern Virginia and farther south, and is 

 found in New Jersey as far north as Monmouth County. It has been reported 

 as growing in Suffolk County, New York, in planted grounds. 



Etymology. — Phellos, the specific name of this species, is from the Greek 

 word (peWos, a cork ; but why applied to this 8]3gcies is not apparent. 



Use. — The Quercus phellos is a beautiful object in the lawn, and is always 

 found in the .southern states of the Ignited States in planted grounds. The 

 wood is soft, and not used in building where better lumber is obtainable. The 

 bark is charged with tannin, but thus far has not been largely used by tanners. 



11. Q. Prinus, L. (Swamp Chestnut Oak.) Trunk 75 to 90 feet high, and 

 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Bark dark-gray, branching regularly. Leaves on 

 long petioles, blade 7 to 8 inches long, 3 to 4 wide, conspicuously veined 

 beneath, oblong-ovate or elliptical, coar.sely and deeply crenate toothed, resem- 

 bling the leaf of the chestnut. Acorn large, sweet, oval, and brown; cup 

 shallow and scaly. 



Geography. — The chestnut oak or chestnut-leaved oak is found throughout 

 the northern United States, and as far south as Virginia, and west to the 

 Mississippi. It attains its full size in southern Pennsylvania and northern 

 Maryland and Virginia. 



Etymology. — Prinus is from the Greek -rrplvos, ever-green oak. . The name 

 chestnut oak is due to the shape of the leaf, which resembles that of the chestnut. 



Use. — The wood of this tree splits easily, is hard, durable, and takes a 

 good polish. It is used for frames of buildings, planks, etc., and is liighly 

 esteemed for fuel. The fruit is sweet, and greatly valued as food for swine. 

 In Virginia, southern Pennsylvania, and the eastern parts of the Carolinas 

 large droves of swine are fattened on acorns, principally of this species. 



Var. acuminata, Mx. (Chestnut Oak.) Trunk 40 to 70 feet in height, 

 I to 2 feet in diameter. Bark whitish and furrowed, irregularlv branched. 



