404 cuptJLiPEK^. (oak family.) 



1. QITERCUS, L. Oak. 



Sterile flowers clustered in slender and naked drooping catkins, without bracts • 

 calyx 6-8-parted: stamens 6-12: anthers 2-celled. Fertile flowers scattered 

 or somewhat clustered, consisting of a 3-celled and 6-ovuled ovary, with a 3- 

 lobed stigma, enclosed by a scaly bud-like involucre which becomes an indurated 

 cup (cupule) around the base of the rounded nut or acorn. Cotyledons remain- 

 ing underground in germination. — Flowers greenish or yellowish, the fertile 

 ones inconspicuous. Aments several from the same scaly bud. (The classical 

 Latin name.) AH flower in spring, and shed their nuts in October. 



§ 1. Fruit ripening the first year, mostly peduncled: leaves not bristly-toothed or pointed. 



* Leaves sinuate-hhed or pinnaiifid, all pale, whitish, or grayish-doumy xmdemeath. — • 



White Oaks. 



1. Q> , macroc^irpa, Michx. (Bue-Oak. Ovek-cup or Mosst-cup 

 White-Oak.) Leaves obovate or oblong, lyratdy-pinnatifid or deeply sinvate- 

 lubed, irregular, downy or pale beneath ; the lobes sparingly and obtusely toothed, 

 or the smaller ones entire ; cup deep, conspicuously imbricated, of hard and thick 

 pointed scales, the upper ones avmed, so as to make a inossy-fringed border ; acorn 

 ovoid (I'-lJ' long), half immersed in or entirely enclosed hy the cup. — Dry woods, 

 along rivers, &c., W. New England to Wisconsin, Kentucky, and southwest- 

 ward. — A handsome, middle-sized tree. Cup very variable, especially in size, 

 from I' to 2' across. 



Var. olivsefdrmis (Q. olivseformis, Miclix.) is plainly a mere state ol 

 this (figured by Michaux with unripe or imperfect fruit), with nan-ower and 

 more deeply lobed leaves, and oblong acorns and cups : growing with the ordi- 

 nary form. 



2. Q. obtlisiloba, Michx. (Post-Oak. Eottgh or Box White- 

 Oak.) Leaves grayish-doumy underneath, pale and rough above, thickish, sinuately 

 cut into 5-7 roundish divergent lobes, the upper ones much larger and often 

 1 - 3-notched ; cup saucer-shaped, naked, about one third the length of the ovoid acorn. 

 (Q. stellata, Willd.) — Sandy or sterile soil, from the coast of Massachasetta 

 and from Wisconsin southward. — A small tree, with very durable wood. 

 Acorns ^' to |' long, nearly sessile. 



3. Q. SIba, L. (White Oak.) Mature leaves smooth, pale or glaucous 

 underneath, bright green above, obovate-oblong, obliquely and moderately or deeply 

 cut into 3-9 oblong or linear and obtuse mostly entire lobes ; cup hemispherical- 

 saucer-shaped, rough or tubercled at maturity, naked, much shorter than the ovoid or 

 oblong acorn. — Rich woods ; common. — A well-known and invaluable large tree. 

 Lobes of the leaves short and broad 3 - 5, or 5 - 9 and narrow. Acorn about 

 1 ' long ; the kernel sweet and edible. 



# # Leaves coarsely sinuate-toothed, but not lobed, whitish and more or less downy be- 



neath : cup hoary : acorns sweet-tasted. — Chestnut-Oaks. 



4. Q, Prinus, L. (Swamp Chestnut-Oak.) Leaves obovate or oblong- 

 obovate, coarsely and somewhat uniformly dentate with rounded teeth, downy 

 beneath, glabrous above ; cup hemispherical (either abrupt or with a small top- 

 Bhaped base), thick, tubercled when old, nearly half or one third the length ot 



