Feb. I860.] elliott society. 19 



says tliey fall during the course of a month after frost. Those noted by us 

 had most of then* leaves remaining considerably longer. Some had fallen 

 before Christmas, and some of larger growth had shed them by the middle of 

 January ; but, in general, we have observed them to retain at least half during 

 the Winter. It is somewhat difficult to distinguish this species from the Black 

 Jack when the leaves have disappeared. The bark sometimes appears equally 

 as black and rugged ; and both are indiilerently called Scrub Oak. 



The Spanish Oak, (Q. falcata. ) Leaves still green, turning yellowish, and 

 just commencing to drop very sparingly. Trees of small growth, and shoots 

 from the stocks which have been cut down, have them reddish-brown. Large 

 trees retain their faded foliage a long time after Christmas, but their tops are 

 generally nearly stripjied. The loaves are, about this time, reddish-brown 

 with a yellowish tint, which distinguishes them at a distance in the forest. 

 The leading shoots exhibit smaller leaves of the normal shape, with the pro- 

 longed, falcate middle lobe, and rounded base, while the inferior, more 

 matured, have them larger, of an obovate outline somewhat, with the lateral 

 lobes short, more obtuse and spreading, and the middle, or terminal one, short, 

 also the base more acute. This is their appearance, likewise, on young trees, 

 and shoots from stumps.* These retain tlieir leaves, which are larger, and 

 much longer. The largest trees ha,ve cast nearly all by February ; but those of 

 mean size last until Sirring, The variety triloba, of small growth, also retains 

 its brown leaves during the Wint^er. 



The Water Oak, ( Q. aqaatica, ) had, in general, up to January, preserved its 

 green, tinsTod here and there with dull red. Towards the end of January, a 

 few larger trees had cast their leaves, others not entirely, but they were brown 

 and withered, as were likewise those of the undergrowth pretty generally. 

 Other smaU trees retained them partly green, red and brown. Michaux re- 

 marks that in Virginia, where the Winters are pretty severe, its leaves fall after 

 the first frosts, whilst in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida on the sea-board, 

 the cold is so little felt that they last two, even three years without being renewed. 



The Willow Oak ( Q. PlicUos, ) appeared with its leaves, for the most part, 

 green, slightly yellowed, and not shedding. As late as the 20th Dec. they were 

 still green and yellowish, and had not shed much. But by the 20th January, 

 they were entirely bare. At the former date the leaves of the young growth 

 were of a deep or dull red. Those of small trees of the Laurel Oak, commonly 

 also called Water Oak, though it affects dryer sltiiations than Q. ciq^mtica, were 

 also at that date green and red, and are retained during the Winter, being 

 nearlj' perennial in large trees, and not shedding till in the Spring. 



Prof. McCrady made some remarks in which he contended that 

 the discovery by Prof. Agassiz, that MUlepora and the Favositldae 



* Catesby, wliosc description oi our Oaks is pretty accurate, says, oi tiie liort Oak, 

 (Which has hoen sometimes contoundca with the Spanlsli Oak and whicli latter he 

 meant, from the plate s'iven,) "The loaves ol this Oak retain no certain lorm, but 

 sport into various shapes more tliau other oaks do."' 



