188 
shoots and short leaf-stems downy, as is also the under surface of the leaves; mostiy 
. smooth above. Acorns sessile, or pn short stems, oblong, } to Linch long, and nearly 
~ San ineh in diameter; cups hemispherical, } inch broad; scales tubereulate. 


























71.—BLAck OAK. ‘MOUNTAIN OAK.” (Quercus Hmoryi, Torrey.) 
A tree 40 to 50 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet in diameter, or a shrub 
at the eastern limit of its range; if occurs abundantly through the 
meuntain ranges of southern New Mexico (eastern and southern Ari- 
zona, and western Texas) at elevations between 5,000 and 7,000. feet; 
varely if ever found on hills or far from streams, preferring the fine 
gravelly or sandy soil of open canyons. The wood is very heavy and 
brittle, of a poor quality, and little esteemed, except for fuel, the large 
trees often becoming hollow or otherwise defective. 
Deseriplion.—Leayes thick, } to 2} inches long, 4 to 14 inches wide, ovate, ob- 
long-ovate, often approaching halberd-shape, with an acute point, and chietly (some- 
times rounded or with strongly) heart-shaped base; margin entire, but mostly wavy, 
with distant, shallow or rather large prickle-pointed teeth; mature leaves usually 
dark glossy green both sides; when young minutely downy, as are the young shoots 
and short leaf-stems, but the latter more densely so. Acorns mostly sessile—soime- 
times with short stem—ovate, with arather sharp and prolonged point, 4 to } of an 
 ineh long, and § of an inch in diameter; cup hemispherical, $ inch broad, with close, 
_ smooth scales. Acorns abundant, sweet, edible. <A tree with a scraggy appearance. 
72.—(Quercus hypoleuca, Engelmann.) 
A small but very handsome tree with evergreen foliage, found in the 
high mountain ranges of southwestern New Mexico, Santa Rita Mount- 
ains, southeastern Arizona (southward into Sonora, and in the Limpia 
Mountains of Texas), at elevations above 6,000 feet, usually preferring 
rocky or gravelly sites in deep canyons and valleys. Commonly 15 to 
20, occasionally 50, feet in height, with a diameter of 2 feet; the 
trunks usually large for the height. The wood is heavy, very hard, and 
strong, but large-sized trees are often defective, In localities where it 
“an be grown it would be a popular ornamental tree. 
Pescription.—Leaves thick, commonly 2 to 3} inches long and 2 to 1lineh wide, 
lance-shaped, with rounded, slightly heart-shaped or acute base, the upper end usually 
tapering to a long thin point; margin rolled down, entire, or wavy, with few indistinct 
or shallow teeth—sometimes sharply toothed; young leaves downy above, always 
_deusely woolly below, but with age becoming smooth and dark green above; stems 
downy. Acorns usually sessile or sometimes with short stems, ovate, } to } of an 
inch long; cups hemispherical, with thin, downy scales. Trank and branches gener- 
ally gnarled and twisted, 
73.—CANOE BircH. Wuitr Biron. PArer Bircn. (Betula papyrifera.* 
Marshall.) 
A rather large tree, growing chiefly in rich woodlands and along water. 
courses, and extending farther north than any other American decidu- 
ous tree. It has a limited range in the Roeky Mountains region, being 

’ *See Dwart Birch inv list of shrubs, page 196. 

