THE FLAT-LEAVED OAK. 307 
the case in Pedunculata. The term ‘ flat-leaved’ 
Oak, applied to Quercus sessiliflora, is not so sug- 
gestive of leafy beauty as that of ‘ wavy-leaved,’ 
applied to the other species. But, in reality, 
the waviness of the leaf of Peduwneulata arises 
rather from a ruggedness of surface—a quality 
characteristic of the Tree; for, in all ways, Sessili- 
flora has the handsomer leaf, whether we regard 
its individual beauty or the clustering compact- 
ness of the foliage as a whole. A prominent 
characteristic in the latter is the presence of 
leaf stalks—absent from its rival. But on the 
other hand, the acorn, as we have seen, is with- 
out a stalk, or at most, is provided with a very 
short and imperfect one; and hence the specific 
name of sessiliflora. It has been noticed, both 
in this country and on the continent of Europe, 
that Pedunculata is usually found growing on 
better soil than Sessiliflora, and this preference 
of the Tree for good soil will, perhaps, account 
for its more perfect growth, and for the superior 
quality of its timber. But what the present 
species may lose in the quality of its wood it 
gains in picturesqueness and beauty. 
