596 
MONOECIA TRIANDRIA. 
toothed or angled on the young, frequently obtuse. Aments of sterile florets 
small, fertile florets very numerous. Fruit oval, nearly black, mueronate, 
pedunculate, generally in pairs. 
The timber of this oak is perhaps the most valuable that is known for the 
purposes of naval architecture. Its fibre is compact, heavy, strong, and du- 
rable, twisted so as to split with difficulty, and hardening with age or on ex- 
posure to weather. The natural curvature of the branches is in general pre- 
cisely such as the timbers of a ship require, so that the strength of the wood 
may, with a little care, be entirely preserved. It is also used in machines, 
for the fellows of cog wheels, and in general wherever strength and durability 
are required, and where its weight and crookedness form no objection. Its 
bark is excellent for the use of the Tanner, and its smaller branches are gen- 
erally used for fuel, and constitute in fact the best firewood in our country. 
This tree is now becoming scarce in the forests, as the soil and situation 
in which it naturally grows, is that peculiarly adapted for the cultivation of 
the Sea-Island Cotton. It is only seen in perfection in old fields, or as an 
ornamental tree near buildings, or on the margins of islands or points of 
lands projecting into salt water. It is much to be regretted, that residents 
on the Sea-Islands do not plant avenues of this noble tree along the roads 
leading up to their houses, as a means not only of preserving and eventually 
increasing the supply of timber, but of adding embellishments to situations, 
which have frequently all the beauties that water and wood can give to the 
scenery of a level country. We perhaps want the variety which cultivation 
even in its most regular aspect can bestow. All, however, who have seen 
the fine avenues of Live Oak near Dorchester, will acknowledge, that they 
would add magnificence to any landscape. 
Grows along the sea coast, often flourishing luxuriantly when a portion of 
its roots are washed by the salt water at a very high tide. 
Flowers and sheds a portion of its leaves in April. 
5. Maritima. Willd. 
Q,. foliis perennanti- 
bus, coriaceis, lanceola- 
tis, integerrimis, gla- 
bris, basi attenuatis, 
a pice acutis, mucrona- 
tis; nuce ovali. 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 424. Pursh, 2. p. 62i 
Q. Phellos, var. Maritima, Mich. 2, 
Icon. Mich. Querc. t. 13. f. 3. 
A shrub 4 — 10 feet high, growing 
lanceolate, (often sinuately toothed, s 
sides, Nutt.) on very short petioles. 
Cup pedunculate. 
This species has always appeared t 
Virens. Its acorn is similar in shape. 
Leaves perennial, 
coriaceous, lanceolate, 
entire, glabrous, taper- 
ing at base, acute at 
the summit, mueronate; 
nut oval. 
>. Nutt. 2. p. 214. 
p. 197 . 
along the sea coast. Leaves oblong- 
nooth and of the same colour on both 
Nut oblong, mueronate, rather large. 
) me to be most nearly allied to the Q. 
but larger. 
