1876

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

in particular districts of very poor soil, where, alone or mingledwith the bear oak (Q. Banisteri), it sometimes covers tracts of morethan 100 acres in extent. It was introduced in 1828; but is rarelyto be met with in plantations. Pursh states that it is highly orna-mental when in full bloom; and Michaux observes that it mightprobably be cultivated along with Q. Banisteri for its fruit, which,as before observed, is very sweet. From the small size of the plant,this variety is well deserving of culture for suburban or smallvilla gardens, and miniature arboretums.

I Q.P.5 tomentosa Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., ii. p. 196., Quer., No. 5. t. 9.f. 2.; Q. P. discolor Michx. fil. Arb., ii. p. 46. t. 6., N. Amer. Syl.,i. p. 43. t, 7., and our fig. 1739., Ladd. Cat., ed. 1836; Q. bicolorWilld. Sp. PL, iv. p. 440., Pursh FI.

Amer. Sept., ii. p. 633., N. Du Ham.,vii. p. 165., Smith in Rees’s Cycl., No.

50.; Q. MichauxiNutt. The Swampwhite Oak.—Leaves almost sessile,obtusely oval, bluntly toothed;downy beneath. ( Michx Theswamp white oak, in America, saysthe younger Michaux, is a beautifultree, more than 70 ft. high, of avigorous habit of growth, and withluxuriant foliage. The leaves arefrom 6 in. to 8 in. long, and 4 in.broad; entire towards the base,which is attenuated and wedge-shaped; but dilated and coarselytoothed for two thirds of their length.

The tree is distinguished, when full grown, by the remarkableappearance of its leaves, which are on the under side silky, andand of a silvery whiteness; while the upper side is smooth, and of abright green. It was from this striking contrast that Dr. Muhlen-berg gave this tree the specific name of discolor. The acorns aresweet, but seldom abundant; they are long, of a clear chestnutbrown, and contained in rather shallow scaly cups, edged withshort slender filaments. These cups are “ more downy within thanthose of any other oak;” and they are borne in pairs, on pedunclesof from 1 in. to 2 in. in length. The bark is scaly, and of a greenishwhite. With the exception of the district of Maine, and the mari-time parts of the southern provinces, Michaux informs us that thisoak is diffused throughout the whole of the United States. “ Incomparison, however, with several other species, it is not common,being found only on the edges of swamps, and in wet places exposedto inundations, and not in the forests at large.” It generally grows incompany with Q. palustris, zl'cer rubrum, Nyssa aquatica, and Caryaalba; and, in British plantations, would thrive in the same situations. as the alder and poplar. This species appears to have been dis-covered by the elder Michaux, who has figured a leaf of it underthe name of Q. P. tomentosa; but when it was introduced intoBritain is uncertain, though, in all probability, it would be about thesame time as Q. P. monticola, viz. in 1800. The wood is strong,

■ elastic, and heavier than that of the white oak. In full-grown trees,the grain is fine and close, and the pores are not visible to the nakedeye : it splits easily, and in a straight line; and, according to Michaux,it is esteemed next in quality to the American white oak, though,from its rareness, it is but seldom employed for economical pur-poses. There is a tree of this species in the arboretum at Messrs.Loddiges’s, and one in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, under

1739

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