424 curuLiFER^. (oak family.) 



Var. montieola, Michx. (Rock Chestnut-Oak.) (Q. montana, PFiVH.) 

 A smaller tree (30° -40° high), with more compact and durable wood ; fruit 

 smaller ; nut oblong. — Rocky woods along the mountains. 



Var. Michauxii. (Q. Michauxii, Nutt.) Leaves smaller (4' -5' long), 

 rather rigid, velvety beneath, often obtuse or slightly cordate at the base ; nut 

 ovate (1^' long). — Low ground, Florida to South Carolina. — A large tree. 



Var. discolor, Michx. Leaves obovate, acute at the base, coarsely and 

 obtusely toothed or somewhat lobed, dark-green above, whitc-tomentose beneath ; 

 fruit long-peduncled, cup tubercular, hemispherical; nut oblong-ovate (Y 

 long). (Q. bicolor, Willd.) Swamps along the mountains. — A large tree. 



19. Q. Castanea, Willd. (Chestndt-Oak.) Leaves oblong, varying 

 to lanceolate, acuminate, sharply toothed, with the points incurved, mostly acute 

 at the base, smooth above, paler and minutely pubescent or glaucous beneath ; 

 fruit small, sessile or short-pedunclcd ; cup hemispherical, with flat scales, en- 

 closing one third of the oblong nut. — Rocky woods, West Florida to Missis- 

 sippi, and northward. — A large or middle-sized tree. Leaves 3' - 6' long. Nut 

 7" -9" long. 



20. Q. prinoides, Willd. (Chinquapin-Oak.) Shrubby ; leaves lance- 

 olate-oblong, acute at each end, acutely toothed, smooth above, white-tomentose 

 beneath ; fruit small, mostly sessile ; cup hemispherical, with flat scales, enclos • 

 ing about one half of the round-ovate nut. (Q. Chinquapin, PureA.) — Barren 

 soil in the upper districts, and northward. — Shrub 2° -6° high. Leaves 3' -4' 

 long. Nut 8"- 9" long. 



2. CASTANEA, Toum. Chestnut. 



Sterile flowers in separate clusters, in long erect cylindrical aments. Calyx 

 .5-6-parted. Stamens 8-15: anthers 2-eelled. Fertile flowers 1-3, enclosed 

 in the bell-shaped, at length globose, 4-valved and very prickly involucre. Calyx 

 5-6-lobed, superior. Abortive stamens 5-12. Ovary 3-6-celled. Ovules 

 single or by pairs in each cell. Stigmas 3-6, bristle-like, spreading Nuts 1-3, 

 roundish, compressed, or plano-convex. Cotyledons very thick. — Trees or 

 shrubs, with oblong petioled sharply-serrate straight-veined leaves. 



1. C. vesca, L. (Chestnut.) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 

 coarsely serrate, smooth on both sides ; nuts mostly 3, the middle one flattened, 

 the 2 outer ones plano-convex, dark brown. — Dry woods. West Florida, and 

 northward. April. — A large tree. Leaves 6' - 7' long. 



2. C. pumila, Michx. (Chinquapin.) Leaves oblong, acute, or obtuse, 

 finely serrate, hoary-tomentose beneath; nuts solitary, nearly globular. (C nana, 

 MM., a form with larger leaves and nuts.) — Dry sandy soil, Florida, and north- 

 ward. April- May. — A large shrub or small tree. Leaves, involucre, and nut 

 smaller than those of the preceding. 



3. FAGUS, Toum. Beech. 



Sterile flowers capitate, on long and drooping peduncles, with deciduous bracts. 

 Calyx bell-shaped, 5-6-cleft. Stamens 8 -12: anthers 2-celled. Fertile flow- 



