o 
HOLLY-LEAVED OAK. 
QUERCUS agrifolia; foliis lato-ovatis subcordatis dentato- 
spinosis glabris, fructibus axillaribus sessilibus. Nee in 
Annal. Scienc. Nat. vol. 3. p. 271. Annals of Botany, No. 4. 
p. 106. 
Quercus agrifolia, j'oliis perennantibus subrotundo-ovatis 
subcordatis utrinque glabris remote spinoso-dentatis, cu- 
pula hemisphserica; squamis adpressis obtusiusculis, glande 
ovata acuta. — Pursh, Flor. Bor. Am. 2. p. 657. Willd. Sp. 
pi. 4. p. 431. 
An Ilex folio agrifolii americana, forte agria, vel aquifolia 
glandifera. Plukenet, tab. 196. fig. 3 ? 
This species, almost the only one which attains the 
magnitude of a tree in Upper California, is abundantly 
dispersed over the plain on which Sta. Barbara is 
situated, and, being evergreen, forms a conspicuous and 
predominant feature in the vegetation of this remote 
and singular part of the western world. It appears more 
sparingly around Monterey, and scarcely extends on 
the north as far as the line of the Oregon territory. It 
attains the height of about 40 or 50 feet, with a diame- 
ter rarely exeeding 18 inches. The bark is nearly as 
rough as in the Red Oak; the wood hard, brittle, and 
reddish, is used only for the purposes of fuel or the 
coarse construction of a log cabin. 
As an ornamental tree for the south of Europe or the 
w r armer states of the Union, we may recommend this 
species. It forms a roundish summit, and spreads but 
little till it attains a considerable age; as a hedge it 
would form a very close shelter, and the leaves ever- 
green and nearly as prickly as a holly, would render it 
almost impervious to most animals. 
