1894

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

gitudinally marked with a few reddish lines; andthey are so abundant as sometimes to cover thebranches. The bear oak is common in the northernstates, also in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsyl-vania. It is never found insulated, or mingled withother trees and shrubs in the forest; but always intracts of several hundred acres in extent, which itcovers almost exclusively, a few specimens of thechinquapin oak (Q. Prinus pumila) only breaking itsuniformity. The presence of this oak is considereda sure indication of a barren soil; and it is usuallyfound on dry sandy land mingled with gravel. Thisoak was first observed by Banister, after whom itwas named by some authors; it was not, however,till 1800, that it was brought to this country by theMessrs. Fraser, to whom we owe the introductionof many species of American oaks. The tree is toosmall for the wood to be of any use; but the acornsafford an abundant supply of food to deer, bears, andswine, which, from the low stature of the plant, can “ reach them by lifting theirheads, or rising on their hind feet.” The younger Michaux saw it used forhedges; and he suggests that it might be planted as copse-wood, as it wouldafford food, as well as an excellent shelter, for game; also, that, as it will growin the most sterile soil, and resist the most impetuous winds, it might serve asa nurse to plantations in exposed situations, such as the dykes in Holland.The larva of Phalm'na (Orgyia) leucostfgma Sm. and Abb. Ins., t. 79., the palevapourer moth, feeds on the leaves of this species.

t 24. Q. HiiTERornvYi.A Michx. The various-leaved, or Bartram's, Oak.

Identification. Michx. Amer. Syl., 1. p. 75.; Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 627.

Engraving. Michx. Amer. Syl., t. 18.

Spec. Char. Leaves on long footstalks, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, entire or unequally toothed.Cup hemispherical. Nut roundish. {Michx.) A tree, 30 ft. high.

Dcscriptionf tyc. It is a remarkable fact, that, notwithstanding the apparent distinctness of thisoak, only one specimen of it has been found in a wild state, and that was discovered by Michaux, ina field belonging to Mr. Bartram, on the banks of the Schuylkill, 4 miles from Philadelphia. Thiswas a flourishing tree, 30ft. high, with a trunk 12 in. in diameter. The leaves are of an elongatedoval form, coarsely and irregularly toothed, smooth above, and of a dark green beneath. The acornsare round, of a middle size, and contained in shallow cups, lightly covered with scales. It is said tohave been introduced, but we do not know where it is to be obtained.

& 25. Q. agrifo'lia Willd. The prickly-leaved American Oak.

Identification. Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 434.; Nees in Ann. des Scien. Nat., 3. p. 271.; Fisch. Misc. Hisp.,1. p. 108.; Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 627.; N. Du Ham., 7. p. 156.; Smith in Rees’s Cycl.,No. 29.

Engraving. ? Pluk. Phyt., 1.196. f. 3.

Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves roundish-ovate, somewhat heart-shaped; smooth on both sides, with spinousteeth. Fruit axillary, sessile. Scales of the calyx lax. Nut ovate. {Willd.) A native of thewestern coast of North America, near Nootka Sound. It has not been introduced.

§ vii. Vitellos. Willow Oaks.

! i

Sect. Char., Sfc. Leaves quite entire and lanceolate, dying off without muchchange of colour, in England; but, in America, sometimes persistent fortwo or three years. Young shoots straight, spreading, and wand-like.Bark very smooth, black, and never cracked. Fructification biennial. Cupimbricate. Nut roundish, and very small. Large trees and shrubs, the leastbeautiful in their foliage of the oak family.

¥ 26. Q. CheT.los L. The Willow Oak.

Identification. Lin. Sp. PI., 1412.; Willd. Sp. PL, 4. p. 423.; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed.2.,5. p. 287.'; Pnrsh