CHAP. CV.

coryla'ce^e. que'rcus.

1873

They are somewhat wedge-shaped, and are deeply den-tated with blunt lobe-liketeeth from the summit tothe base. The acorns are

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of a bright clear brown, eSjwmoval, and larger than those

of any other kindof Ameri-can oak, except Q. macro,carpa : they are borne onvery short peduncles, andare contained in shallowscaly cups : they are sweet,and are sometimes pro-

duced in great abundance. The swamp chestnut oak is found occa-sionally within a few miles of Philadelphia; but it is in the greatestabundance in the maritime parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and EastFlorida. It grows only in the large swamps which border the rivers,or that are enclosed in the forests, and “ always in spots that are rarelyinundated, and where the soil is loose, deep, constantly cool, and luxu-riantly fertile.” (N. Amer. Syl .) In the Carolinas and Georgia, it isusually accompanied by I/'lmus ainericana and U. alata, Magnoliagrandiflora and M. tripetala, the beech, poplar, hickory, &c.” ft wasthe first of the chestnut oaks observed by European botanists,being supposed to be that described and figured by Plukenet in 1691,and by Catesby in 1731. There appears, however, some discre-pancy between their descriptions; Plukenet stating that his oak hadred veins to the leaves, which Catesby says his oak had not. It wasintroduced before 1730, as it was included in the catalogue of thegardeners published in that year (see p. 68.); and it was one ofthe oaks stated by Catesby to be, in his time, “ growing at Mr. Fair-child’s.” There are trees of this oak at Messrs. Loddiges’s, and inthe Horticultural Society’s Garden. The wood of this tree isconsidered, in America, to be inferior to that of Q. alba, Q. obtusiloba,and even Q. macrocarpa, though it is superior to the wood of theAmerican oaks comprised in the division Rubrae. It is too porousfor casks to contain wine or spirituous liquors; but it is used bywheelwrights, and for other works which require strength and somedurability. “ As it splits in a straight line, and may be divided intofine shreds, it is chosen by the negroes for baskets and brooms.”As posts and rails, it will last about 12 or 15 years, which is onethird longer than the wood of the willow oak will remain unde-cayed, when applied to similar purposes. In Georgia, the wood ofthe swamp chestnut oak is considered to make the best fuel. Theacorns are extremely sweet, and, in the American woods, aregreedily devoured by deer, cows, horses, and swine. The principalmerit of the tree, however, according to the younger Michaux, con-sists in its noble and majestic appearance, and in the extraordinarybeauty of its foliage.

Q. P. 2 monticola Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., ii. p. 196., Quer., No.5. t. 7.,andouryfg. 1736., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. P. monticola Michx. fil.N. Amer. Syl., i. p. 49. t. 9., Q. montana Willd. Sp. PL, iv. p. 440.,Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., ii. p. 634., N. Du Ham., vii. p. 165., Smith inRees’s Cycl., No. 49., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. Prinus Smith in Abb.Ins. of Geor., ii. p. 163. t. 82. The Rock Chestnut Oak. — Leaveson short footstalks, rhomboid-oval. Fruit rather large; cup top-shaped and rough; nut oblong. ( Michx .) The beautiful appearanceof this tree, according to the younger Michaux, “ when growing in afertile soil, is owing equally to the symmetry of its form and the

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