] 738

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

ing which name Mr. Atkinson observes ( Hort. Trans., 2d s., vol. i. p. 336.),that the woodmen in the New Forest call all the oaks that have dark-coloured acorns dunmast (of which word durmast is supposed to be a cor-ruption); and that dun-coloured acorns are found both on Q. pedunculataand Q. sessilifldra. A variety of Q. sessiliflora was found by Mr. Borrerin North Devon, with large leaves, oblique atthe apex, as shown in Jig. 1574. These leavesare not quite so long as those of one of Mr.

Bree’s varieties (Jig. 1584.), which differ fromMr. Borrer’s in being pointed at the apex.

The only account which we are aware of, thathas been given of other British varieties of Q.sessiliflora, is that by the Rev. W. T. Bree,in the Gardener's Magazine, vol. xii. p. 571.

The varieties there mentioned were all foundat Corley, in the parish of AUesley. Mr.

Bree’s communication was accompanied by15 dried specimens, 5 of which we havefigured, and the rest shortly described.

“ When you examine these specimens,” Mr. Bree observes, “ I thinkyou will come to the conclusion that our two so-called species of oak aremere varieties; but, though there are sessile oaks bearing fruit on pe-duncles, and pedunculated oaks bearing almost sessile fruit, there is yeta certain undeseribable something about the trees, by means of which I canalways distinguish each, without minutely examining either the acorns orthe leaf-stalks. There is little difference in the general form and outline ofthe two trees when full grown ; but young seedlings of Q. sessiliflora beartheir leaves close to the stem, and not on footstalks; so that, in this stageof their growth, it is difficult to distinguish them from Q. pedunculata.Q. sessilifldra generally bears small acorns; but it sometimes produces veryfine large ones. The acorns, when ripe, have very generally a red or pinkishtinge ; so that, in nine cases out of ten, they are distinguished by looking atthe fallen acorns only.” The specimens which accompanied Mr. Bree’scommunication are thus described : —

“ Q. s. 1—Acorns large, ovate, quite sessile, and growing in clusters of four or five. Leavesfrom 5in. to 5| in. in length.

“ Q. s. 2.—Acorns large, quite sessile, and growing singly, or in clusters of two or three, as inthe preceding specimen, but closer together on the branches.

“ Q. s. 3. —Very large leaves, and very small long acorns; one of the latter sessile, and the otherwith a footstalk, of about 3-8th in. in lengthQ. s. 4—-Acorns of three times the diameter ofthose of the last specimen, and about twicetheir length.

“ Q. s . 5.—Acorns with a short peduncle. Twospecimens from the same tree. In onespecimen, the peduncles are lin. long;in the other, scarcely | in. The form ofthe leaves, their yellowish green and longfootstalks, and the large buds in theiraxils, leave no doubt whatever of thesespecimens belonging to Q. sessiliflbra.

“ Q. s. 6.—Acorns single, or in clusters of fromtwo to five, on peduncles varying from| in. to lin. in length. One of the pe-duncles has an abortive sessile acorn atits base; two acorns, about |in. 'fromeach other on its length ; and its extremityterminates in a large well-formed leaf-bud.

The acorns are long, and very much re-semble those of Q. pedunculata.

s.l _Acorns small and round, sessile in

some cases, but with short footstalks inothers ; the leaves of a darker green, ap-proaching nearer to those of Q. peduncu-lata than in the case of any of the pre-ceding specimens ; though, from theirappearance, long footstalks, and largebuds, there can be no doubt of their be-longing to Q. sessiliflbra.

“ Q. a*. 8.—Leaves but little laciniated, and re-sembling those of Q. pedunculata; broad,with long footstalks, pale green. (SeeJig. 1575.)