244 



CORYLACE^E. 



acorn oblong. Such are the botanical characters assigned 

 to the pecluncled Oak, taking it in its common typical 

 form. It is subject, nevertheless, to vary, and undergo 

 considerable modifi- 

 cations in the shape 

 of the leaves, both 

 as regards the depth 

 of the sinuses and 

 the number of the 

 lobes, as well as in 

 the existence or 

 total want of a 

 petiole ; the form 

 and size of the fruit, 

 also, are dissimilar in 

 different trees, and 

 the fruit-stalks vary greatly in their length ; in some in- 

 stances being upwards of an inch long, in others very 

 short, and nearly sessile, or intermediate, as it were, be- 

 tween what may be called the 

 typical forms of Quer. pedunculata 

 and Quer. sessili/lora, which has 

 induced some to consider such 

 instances as Hybrids, though the 

 fact of their producing fertile seeds 

 militates, we conceive, against such 

 a supposition, and is rather in fa- °^ 

 vour of the common origin of the 

 two supposed species. A great 

 difference is also observable in 

 regard to the period of coming 

 into leaf, and casting the foliage 

 in autumn, some trees expand- 



