CUPULIFERffl. 321 



MENS 6 to 12 : anthers 2-cellcd. Fertile flowers 

 scattered or somewhat clustered, consisting of a 3-celled 6- 

 ovuled ovary with a 3 lobed stigma, inclosed by a scaly bud- 

 like involucre which becomes au indurated cup (cupule) 

 around the base of the rounded nut or acorn. — A noble fjenus 

 of trees (rarely shrubs), with greenish or yell) wish sterile flowers, 

 in axillary \ pendulous, filiform aments ,- the fertile inconspicuous : 

 flowering in April and May, and ripening their fruit in October. 

 Ssc. I. Fruit annual, pedunculate. — Leaves uot mucronate. 



* Leaves sin uatc-lobed or pinnatifid. White Oaks. 



1. Q. alba, L. White Oak. 



Is-avcs smooth, pale or glaucous underneath, obovate-oblong, obtuse, obliquely 

 and deeply cut into 3 to 6. oblong, obtuse mostly entire lobes; cup- hemispheric:.*, 

 roughish, nuked, nmeh shorter than the ovoid or oblong acorn. 



Rich wools, cemmon. The White Oak is a well known aul invaluable tree 70 

 to 8) feet high, with a diameter of 4 to 6 feet. Z' iwej bright green above, tho 

 lobes variable in breadth, sometimes very narrow. Nitt about 1 hash long, sweet* 

 isb ; edible. 



2. Q. obtusiloba, Michx, Post Oak. Iron Oak. 



Leaves deeply cut into 5 to 7 roundish divergent lobes, the upper ones much 

 longer and often 1 to 3-notched, grayish-downy underneath, pale and rough above ; 

 cup hemispherical, naked, about ]/> the length of the ovoid acorn. 



Sandy goilj not common. May. A tree "0 to 50 feethigh, with straggling irregu- 

 lar branches. Fruit sessile, or 2 to 3 together on a short common peduncle. The 

 timber is very durable, and is much esteemed in ship building. 



3. Q. macrocarpa, Michx. Over-cup White Oal:. 



Leaves obovate, deeply and lyrately sinuatedobed, pale or downy underneath , 

 the lobes obtuse, repanl; cup deep, fringed around the margin, mora than half 

 enclosing the ovoid turg'd acorn. 



Woods along rivers, rare. May. A tree 40 to 60 feet high, the branches covered 

 ■with a corky bark. Leaves dark-green, 10 to 15 inches long. Acorns very large 

 immersed % of their length in the cup which is mossy-fringed on t'lie border. 



4. Q. oliv^formis, Michx. Mossy-cup Oak. 



Leaves oblong, deeply and unequally sinuate-pinnatifid, smooth, glaucous under- 

 neath; cup very deep, mossy-fringed above, inclosing % of the elliptical-oval acorn. 



Swamp-, and low places, not common. A large and majestic tree CO to 80 feet 

 high, with a diameter of 2 to 4 feet, chiefly remarkable for its smaller branches 

 always inclining downwards. Lewes very variable in -form. Fruit 1]4 toeh long. 

 This species is commonly known through Union County as the Swamp. White Oak, 

 and is considered very durable for posts, rails, &c. 



* * Leaves coarsely sinuate-toothed, not lobed. Chestnut Oaks. 



5. Q. • bicolor, Willd. Swamp White Oak: 



Lewes on short petioles, oblong-obovate, cuneate at the base, whitish-downy be- 

 neath, coarsely and irregularly sinuate-toothed ; peiuncle elongated in fruit ; cup 

 hemispherical, sometimes a little fringed at the border, inclosing les3 than one half 

 the oblong-ovoid acorn. 



Low moist woods, common. A tree 40 to 60 feet high, with tha bark separating 

 into large flat plates. Leaves 6 to 7 inches long, with 3 to 15 coarse teeth. Acorn 

 lasgo, in a small thin and roughLsh cup. 



