266 FLORA OF OXFORDSHIRE. 
First record, W. Coles, in Adam in Eden, 1657. 
‘The Beech delighteth to grow in some places and not in others, for as 
in the Chiltern country no wood is more familiar, so in others, not far from 
it, the tree is a great rarity, as in Oxon where there is one growing 
between Oxford and Banbury, which is so famous that it is noted all over 
that county, and called the Beechen Tree, there being scarcely a traveller 
that goes by but takes special notice of it; ye fame makes many Visit it, 
though it be somewhat out of the way, to cut their name upon the smooth 
bark so that now it is full of letters that there is scarcely any space left. 
‘ First heath behind Reading on the way to Oxford, Merrett, 1666. 
‘ At Cain End there are two beeches more strangely joined together » 
great height from the ground, for the bodies of these trees come from 
different roots and ascend parallel to the top, but are joined together a 
little before they come to bough, by a transverse piece of timber entering 
at each end into the bodies of the trees and growing jointly with them, for 
which reason it is commonly called the Gallows tree,’ Plot, 173. 
The Beech occurs in all the districts, but in the Stour, Ouse, and probably 
the Swere and Ray, only as a planted tree. It is likely a native of 
Wychwood. In the Forest and Park there are some fine specimens. In 
the Thame district it is as an introduced tree that it occurs, although 
seedlings here, as in other districts, are not unfrequent. On the Chilterns 
it is native, and forms the principal timber in the extensive coppices and 
woodlands ; some fine trees may been seen in Ipsden Woods. The timber 
is used in the manufacture of chairs which is carried on at Wycombe, large 
quantities are partly prepared at Christmas Common, etc. 
Bucks, Berks, native. Gloster E., probably native. Northants, 
denizen. Warwick, planted. 
CASTANEA. G. 
* C. sativa, Dill. Sweet Chestnut. 
C.Vesca, Lm. C. vulgaris, Lam. 
Syme, E. B. viii. 159. 1290. Comp. Cyb. 560. Nym. 660. 
Denizen. Plantations. Rare. Tree. May. 
8. Swere. Wroxton, Gull. Great Tew, between Bloxham and Tad- 
marton, A. Fr. 
5. Isis. Freeland, Wychwood. 
6. Thame. Nuneham, A. Fr. 
** Juglans regia, L. Walnut. 
Alien. Occurs as a planted tree in Cornbury Park, etc. 
QUERCUS. L. 
Q. pedunculata, Lhrh. The Oak. 
Syme, E. B. viii. 145.1288. Nym. 660. 
Native. Woods, hedgerows, etc. Common. Tree. April, May. 
