ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



281 



the long, pointed acorn, two inches long by two- 

 thirds of an inch thick. It grows, either singly 

 or in open groves, on low mountain slopes, 

 along the streams which course down to the 

 coast. The wood is porous and brittle, in th's 

 respect quite unlike its congener of the East. 



The Oregon Wliite Oak (Qucrcus Garryana, 

 Doug.) is a large tree, sometimes reaching 100 

 feet in height. The wood is fine, hard-grained, 

 and very white, strong and durable. Its acorns 

 are sweet and edible, and constitute an import- 

 ant article in the support of the Indians of that 

 region. Several otlicr species of less importance 

 occur in California and Now Mexico. 



But to return to tlie Eastern part of the con- 

 tinent, we next come to a consideration of the 

 Chestnut Oaks, which are distinguished from 

 the "White Oaks by having their leaves toothed, 

 but not lobed. 



Here we have, first, the Swamp Wliitc Oak 

 Quercus bicolor, Willd., and Q. J'rinus, car. dia- 

 color, Michx.). a figure of which (Fig. 172), 

 and of the next species, we copy from Dr. 

 Brendel's article on Oaks, in the 111. Agr. Soc. 

 Transactions. 



This tree is very widely diffused through the 



Eastern, "Western and Southern States. Its 



[f"is. : 



Clicstmit Oak (Qhcicks caslanea, Miihl.) 



favorite abode is in rich, alluvial lands, often 

 forming a considerable portion of the forests 

 covering the bottom lauds of the "Western rivers. 

 The leaves vary in outline from obovate to ob- 



long, with large and coarse blunt teeth, or with 

 a wavy, coarsely toothed margin, with a soft, 

 whitish down on the under surface, usually 

 tapering to an acute base, and with a very short 

 stem or petiole. The acorns are usually elevated 

 on a stalk, or peduncle, sometimes an inch long. 

 They arc iiuite largo, equaling, at least, those 

 of the Bur Oak (Q. vtarrorarpa, Michx.), with 

 the scales of the cup prominent and sometimes 

 mossy fringed on the border. In low bottom 

 lands it fruits abundantly, and in some of the 

 "Western States the acorns are an important 

 uvlicle for the fatteningof swine, and with otlicr 

 hard fruits of the forest are called mast. 



The Cliestnut Oak {Quercus cadanea, Mulil., 

 and perhaps also of "Willd.) (Fig. 173) next 

 claims our attention. 



Tliis tree dillcrs from tlie preceding in its size, 

 being a much smaller tree ; in its favorite situa- 

 tions, which arc rough or rocky hills; in its 



CliiTi.iviaiiiii Uiik (qumusiirinoidcs, WilM.) 



leaves, which closely resemble those of the 

 Cliestnut; and in the acorns, which are only 

 about half the size. These points will be readily 

 noticed in the accompanying figure (17:5). 



Dr. (iray, and most liotanical authors, describe 

 ill tills group, as a distinct species, aCliestnut Oak 

 under the name of Quercus rrinus,'L., wliich is 

 said to be "common sontliwardand scarce nortli- 

 ward." "We have not yet identified this species 

 in the West. A variety of this species, called 



