294 DICTIONAHY OF POPULAR NAMES OAK 



feet in girtli, and 90 feet spread of branches ; and althougli it has 

 the appearance of being a very old tree, yet it could scarcely 

 have been in existence in the time of Abraham. In the winter 

 of 1856-7 it suffered the loss of a large limb, which was broken 

 off by a heavy fall of snow. 



Oaks abound from the equator north through Central America, 

 Mexico, and northward into Canada. Several Mexican and 

 other southern species have been introduced, but do not prove 

 hardy. The North American species are large handsome trees, 

 some being more than 100 feet in height. Most of them are 

 hardy, and have been well known in tliis country for more than 

 a hundred years, many being very ornamental. About a dozen 

 species have been introduced from Northern India, but they are 

 not sufiSciently hardy to live in the open air in this country. 

 Several have also lately been introduced from Japan and China, 

 but their qualities have not yet been ascertained. 



Oak, She, a name in Australia for the species of the genus 

 Casuarina, of which there are about 20 ; they represent the 

 Beef-wood family (Casuarinacea^). They are widely distributed 

 throughout the islands of the Indian Archipelago and Pacific 

 Ocean. They are leafless trees, with slender cord-like, generally 

 pendulous branches, which are striated with sheathing joints, 

 having much resemblance to the genus Uquisetitm (weedy plants 

 called Horsetails). Flowers inconspicuous; male flowers in 

 spikes or catkins ; female flowers in compact heads, becoming a 

 woody cone about an inch in length, with many cells, each con- 

 taining a small-winged nut-fruit, which by ordinary observers 

 is called the seed. On being made wet and viewed through a 

 microscope it is seen to be densely covered with beautiful spiral 

 vessels. Casuarina equisetifoUa and 0. tomlosa are the most 

 common. In Australia they are known by the names of Swamp 

 Oak, She Oak, Forest Oak, and also (on account of the appear- 

 ance of their wood) Beef- wood. Their pendulous branches 

 and sombre appearance have brought them into special notice 

 for planting in cemeteries ; their wood is hard, and is some- 

 times known as Ironwood. It is used by the natives for 



