AM^INTACE^. " 473 



cated scales. Perianth adherent to the ovary at its base, with a short, tootlied 

 border. Ovary 3-ceLled, with 2 pendulous ovules in each cell. Style 3- 

 lobed. Nut or acorn oblong, ovoid, or globidar, protruding from a woody 

 cup or involucre formed by the enlarged scales. 



A very nvmierous genus, extending over nearly the whole of the northern 

 hemisphere, excepting the extreme north, but only penetrating into the 

 tropics along the chain of the Andes or in the Moluccas. Many exotic 

 species have evergreen or entire leaves, or are mere shrubs, but are all readily 

 recognized by the fruit, in which the involucre never so completely encloses the 

 nut as in the Chestnut and Beech. Among the most frequent in our planta- 

 tions may be mentioned the evergreen or Ilex O. {Q. Ilea"), from southern 

 Europe, the Turkey or moss-mi/pped O. {Q. Cerris), from south-eastern 

 Europe, the red O. (Q. rubra), and some others, from North America. 



1. British Oak. Quercus Robur, Linn. 



A stately tree, the longest-lived among the natives of our islands. Leaves 

 deciduous, although in some varieties they will remain through a great part 

 of the winter, usually obovate or oblong, irregularly sinuate or almost pin- 

 natifid; the lobes usually obtuse, glabrous or (rarely in Britam) downy un- 

 derneath. Cup very much shorter than the acorn, with short, obtuse, 

 closely imbricated, often scarcely distinct scales. 



Extends over the whole of Europe, except the extreme north, penetrating 

 along the chain of the Caucasus a considerable way into central Asia, 

 although frirther north it does not cross the Ural. Fl. spring, as the leaves 

 are coming out. It varies considerably in foliage and inflorescence, and 

 throughout its range two remarkable forms appear so definite and usually 

 so permanent that many of the most acute botanists regard them as distinct 

 species. The question of their specific identity has been much discussed, 

 but the arguments adduced on each side are too long to be here entered into, 

 nor are they absolutely conclusive in favour of the view here adopted, which 

 is nevertheless the result of a close investigation, carried on for many years 

 in various parts of Europe. The following are the two British races : — 



a. Pedunculate British O. (Q. Rnbur pedunculata, Eng. Bot. t. 1342.) 

 Leaves sessile or shortly stalked. Fruits either clustered or spiked, above 

 the middle of a peduncle varying from 1 to 5 or even 6 inches long. The 

 commonest Oak over the greater part of England and the lowlands of Scot- 

 land. In the hilly parts of the west and north it is less abundant and less 

 constant in its characters, and sometimes wholly wanting. 



b. Sessile British O. (Q. Rohur sessilijlora, Eng. Bot. t. 1845.) Leaves 

 on footstalks varying from 4^ to 1 inch long. Fruits solitary or clustei'ed, 

 either closely sessile on the branch or borne on a short peduncle, very rarely 

 attaining an inch. Frequently scattered in woods of the pedunculate 

 variety, and then pretty constant in its characters, rarely constituting the 

 mass of oak-woods in the lower parts of Britain, but in North Wales and 

 the hilly parts of northern England it is the commonest of the two, and 

 very much more variable. 



yill. 'WZI.I.O'W. SALIX. 



Leaves variable, but not triangular nor rhomboidal. Stipules often very 

 conspicuous, but sometimes small or deficient on other branches of the same 

 plant. Flowers dioecious, in cylindrical, usually silky-hairy catkins, with 



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