8 THE TREES AND SHRUBS [LECT. 



Pliny states that the tree was introduced from 

 Sardis in Pontus, and hence was called the Sardian 

 Acorn ; but its general distribution over all the 

 warmer portions of Europe might rather lead us to 

 regard it as indigenous. It forms indeed extensive 

 forests, extending along the south of France, through 

 Italy and Dalmatia, and re-appears in Asia Minor, 

 where it supplied Xenophon's whole army with food 

 in their retreat along the borders of the Euxine. 



It has been supposed, that it was at one time so 

 abundant in England as to be regarded as native, 

 and the large beams of our old cathedrals and 

 mansions have been said to be constructed of it ; 

 but no plant can be considered as indigenous to 

 a country which does not ripen its fruit in it, and 

 this can scarcely be said to be the case generally 

 with the chesnut in England. 



Those, however, who do not think this argu- 

 ment conclusive, may see the subject discussed in 

 the 59th volume of the Phil. Trans, by Daines 

 Barrington, and in the 61st by Dr. Ducarel, the 

 former of whom takes the negative, the latter the 

 affirmative side of the question. 



Pliny enumerates twelve species of Oak as known 

 to him, but amongst these is the Beech, which we 

 place in a distinct genus. The remaining eleven 

 are as follows : 



1. Quercua. 



2. Eobur. 



3. Esculus. 



4. Cerria. 



5. 6. Ilex two kinds. 



7. Suber. 



8. Hemeris. 



9. ^Egilops. 



10. Latifolia. 



11. Haliphloeos. 



