OAK FAMILY. 



311 



varieties which were formerly considered as species, but which are 

 now only regarded as varieties due to soil and situation, The variety 

 monti'cola, Mx., (Quercus monta'na, WiUd..) known as the Eock 

 Chestnut Oak, is a form growing in hilly woodlands, and has more valua- 

 ble timber. Yar. discolor, Mx. (Q/bicolor, Willd..) is the Swamp 

 AYhite Oak ; it has the leaves more deeply toothed and densely whitish- 

 downy beneath, and the upper scales of the cup are sometimes awned so 

 as to form a fringed margin. Quality of the wood variable. 



The acorns of all the varieties are' sweet and nutritious, and sought 

 after by swine. 



5. Q. Casta'nea, Willd. Leaves oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, acuminate, pubescent and cinereous 

 beneath, nearly equally dentate or sinuate- 

 serrate, — the teeth rather acute, and callous at 

 apex ; fruit subsessile ; cupule nearly hemis- 

 pherical ; acorn elliptic-ovoid. 

 Chestnut Quercus. Chestnut Oak. Yellow 

 Oak. 



stem 40-60 or 70 feet bigh, and 1-2 feet in diameter. 

 Leaves 3-6 inches long, the points of the teeth (and 

 along the whole margin) callous, the upper surface 

 smooth and yellowish-green, the under surface finely 

 pubescent and whitish or cinereous ; petioles half an inch 

 to an inch long. Acorn rather small, seated in a pubes- 

 cent bowl-shaped cup. which embraces one third of the 

 nut, and is either sessile on the branch or on a short 

 common peduncle. 



Mountains, slaty hills and banks of streams : Middle 

 and Western States. 



Ohs. This is often a fine tree, — though not so common, in Eastern 

 Pennsylvania, as the others of this subdivision. It presents some 

 varieties — at least in the leaves ; but they generally have a striking re- 

 semblance to those of the Chestnut tree. The acorns are said to be 

 more sweet and nutritious than those of any other species. There is a 

 dwarf species, the Chinquapin Oak, (Q,, prinoi'des, WiUd.,) belonging 

 to this subdivision — common on sandy soil ; but it is two small and un- 

 important to require a more particular notice here. 



I 2. Fruit hiennial, not maturing till the second year after floicer in g, sessile 

 or nearly so ; kernel bitter. 



* Live Oak Group. Leaves evergreen, nearly entire, hoary beneath. 



Fig. 204. The Chestnut or Yellow Oak (Quercus Castanea). 



