u 



entirely subservient to precise definition. The leaves of this species 

 approach nearer to Q. Libani Oliv. (voy. lab. 32) which is the Q. 

 castanesefolia G. A. Meyer (Pfl. Cauc, pag. 44) lhan to Q. Cerris, 

 they are however always glabrous in Q. Libani, and its large depres- 

 sed fruit, and the wide rhomboidal scales of (he cup retroflexed at 

 the point , are exceedingly distinct , and remarkable. Q. Hispanica 

 seems to be found here and there in the warmer parts of the medi- 

 terranean region. The Lucombe oak is said to have come from the 

 Levant. 



ILICES. 



Quercus Suber. Linn. 



Hab. In Hispanic meridionali ubique. 

 Quercus Ilex. Linn. 



Hab. Per Hispaniarum provincias australes vulgaris. 

 Quercus Ballot a. Desf. 

 (3 rotundifolia Lamck. 



Hab. In Hispania Tarraconensi et per omnem Baeticam vulga- 

 ris. In Lusitania, et inter Vettones ad Lanciam Transcu- 

 danam ubi eopiosissima. In Mauritania prope verticem mon- 

 tium Tetuanensium Djibbel Dersa 4-pedalem floridam legi 5 

 occurrit etiam circa Saiam Ballotarum ilicetum ingens Ma- 

 mdra seu Mehedia dictum. Fructus Mauris etiam Beliott ut 

 et Hispanis Bellotas. 



Obs. Clusius confounded this species with the Ilex, though the 

 figure of his Ilex major ( Rar. PI. Hisp. ) evidently belongs to 

 Ballota. Lamarck first mentioned a variety of this plant with entire 

 roundish leaves, such as it occurs frequently, under the name of Q. 

 rotundifolia. Desfontaines described the species accurately, and the 

 name he gave it is far preferable to that of Lamarck, which refers to 

 a peculiar form of the plant, to whieh alone it should remain atta- 

 ched. The Ballota begins to appear mixed with the other holm oaks 

 between fhe 41 and 42 degree of norlh latitude, and continues to in- 

 crease till in the south it is by far the most common species. It 

 seems to make its appearance in Greece in the same latitude, and is 

 perhaps the tree called Etymodrys and Hemeris by Theophrastus (1), 

 but its eastern station seems to need further investigation for it is 

 not impossible that the Hemeris of Theophrastus may belong to the 

 varieties of Q. Robur mentioned as eatable by professor Tenore (Syll., 

 pag469). 



The distinctions between the Ilex and Ballota are frequently little 

 apparent in isolated specimens, but I observed that the peasants 

 distinguished the trees accurately at a distance, whichjl was for a 



(l) "Oiov tv)V xac, yXuxeias (3aAavou<; cpepouaav 6t (xev 7)fj.epiSa xaXouvr£<; 

 otos £Tu;j.oopuv. Theoph., lib 3, cap. 9. 



