A8 BULLETIN 1282, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
21. ESPARTO 
Origin.—A seedling originated on the C. C. Barr ranch, Esparto, Calif. Not 
grown outside the Hsparto district. 
Description 
TREE 
Rather upright (ratio of height of head to width, 1:14). Vigor slightly be- 
low average. Branches profusely. Trunk medium stocky, rough, exfoliates 
in large, thick patches. 
Main branches.—Short, fairly upright in growth, curving outward. Branch- 
ing angle moderately acute. Bark rough on older branches; reddish gray with 
a gray epidermis. 
Twigs.—Tend to be short, stocky, rigid. Wood brittle. Bark thick, tough, 
green, with brown patches in fall. Nodes small. Internodes short (4 inch). 
Lenticels—Generally few in number, very large (on bark 8 to 10 years old, 
3z.by 3 to § by 3 inch; on 5-year-old bark, sy by x inch), much raised even 
on young branches, wide elliptical with tapering acute ends; somewhat dia- 
mond shaped on older wood. 
Foliage.—Moderately dense. Leaves small and numerous. Tend to be 
twisted or wavy on edges. ; 
Blade: Small (average, 8 by 24 inches; ratio of width to length, 1:4). 
Shape elliptical-ovate, occasionally obovate, widest part usually near middle. 
Base acute; origin of sides symmetrical or nearly so. Apex varies from long 
acute to bluntly round. Margin crenations shallow and rather long; frequently 
the margin is distinctly serrate. Midrib slender, prominent. Veins distinct, 
elevated on lower surface. Upper and lower surfaces light green. . 
Petiole: Long (average, # inch; ratio of length of petiole to length of blade, 
about 3:10) ; slender, bright light green on upper surface, pale green on lower. 
Tinged with red late in summer. Groove of medium width, shallow. Glands 
two to four, commonly three, medium size, globular, brownish, reddish, or 
yellowish. 
Bearing habit.—Generally trees of this variety bear most of the nuts on one 
side only. Most spurs are on wood 2 and 8 years old, but some are on 
branches 4 and 5 years old. Many spurs are compound, living for two years 
or longer. Single spurs rather long (7 inch) and slender (#% inch) ; expand 
very suddenly into thin round disk 3%; inch in diameter. Buds long, constricted 
at base; scales tough, with very heavy short pubescence on edges, 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Size medium (14 by 1 by ~ inches). Shape long ovate: part 
on ventral side of axis ovate; part on dorsal side narrow-ovate or oval-ovate. 
Edgewise view ovate, sides generally Symmetrical, but often unsymmetrical. 
Ventral edge evenly curved, curving most at base and least at apex; ridge 
prominent (ss inch high), rather narrow (7 inch); wide shallow grooves 
parallel ridge; one side of hull on ventral edge frequently more prominent 
than the other. Ventral suture crease sz inch wide and zs inch deep. Dorsal 
edge gently curved, curving most throughout apex half, base half straight or 
very gently curved; plump; frequently a slight suggestion of ridge. Base 
plump, bluntly round, usually at right angles to axis, but occasionally very 
slightly ventrally or dorsally sloping, with very short grooves; stem cavity 
oval, 4+ to ze inch across, 3% to i inch deep. Apex acutely pointed, tapering 
from near middle of nut to tip; style stays on late; rudiment small; ventral 
suture crease depressed at apex. 
Hull: Outer surface green at first, changing to yellow with reddish parts 
late in season; pubescence very abundant, long, medium fine, gray, felty. 
Color of inner surface green, turning rapidly to yellowish brown as dehiscence 
proceeds. Dehisces along ventral edge; hull curls inward at ventral edges and 
opens at same time, one half curling faster than the other; very slight cracks 
appear at base of dorsal edge, but complete dehiscence occurs on ventral edge 
only. Ripens from August 28 to September 12. 
Hulled nut.—(P1. IV, D.) Size medium (12 by +8 by # inches). Number to 
the pound, 130 to 180. 
Shape: Plump, somewhat variable, narrow to wide ovate; viewed edgewise, 
ovate; sides frequently unsymmetrical. Ventral edge usually regularly curved, 
