THE OAK. 241 



By many modern botanists, our common Oak, the 

 Quercus Mobur of Linnaeus, is supposed to include two 

 distinct species, distinguished from each other by the 

 following characters : the one with the acorns supported 

 on short stems, or as it is termed pedunculated, and the 

 leaves subsessile or with very short petioles, the other 

 with the fruit sessile, but the leaves petiolated : to the 

 first, which is the prevailing kind in Britain, and which 

 we may term the common Oak, they give the title of 

 Quer. pedunculata ; to the second, which is also met with 

 in many parts, and is frequently found growing commingled 

 with the other kind, that of Sessiliflora. 



Of this specific division we speak with diffidence, as 

 it is supported by the authority of various eminent bota- 

 nists, who are more competent than ourselves to determine 

 what constitutes a species. Our own impression, however, 

 is, that they are rather to be considered varieties than 

 species, and this supposition, we think, is strengthened 

 by the fact that intermediate forms,* both in regard to 

 the position of the fruit and the form of the leaves, are 

 frequently met with, and these are found to run so much 

 into each other, and sometimes to partake so equally of 

 the characters of both kinds, as to render it difficult to 

 determine to which they show the greatest affinity, thus 

 connecting, by gradual approaches, the two supposed spe- 

 cies, however distinct each may appear when viewed in 

 its typical form, or where the variation is at its maximum. 

 We may add, that in the general form, outline, and di- 

 mensions of the two trees when arrived at maturity, no 

 striking or marked difference is perceptible, and though 

 the quality of the timber of the sessile-flowering kind 



* See Rev. W. T. Bree's communications and list of specimens in vol. xii. 

 p. 571 of" Gardener's Mag." and " Arb. Brit." p. 1738. 



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