CHAP. CV.
coRyla'ce^:. que'rcus,
1927
which are close together and almost obtuse; green above, and downy beneath. The acorns arepedunculated, and half-enclosed in a smooth cup. The bark is cracked, but not corky. It is a nativeof Spain; and, according to Bose, there is a plant at Trianon, raised from seed brought from Gib-raltar by M. Richard in 1754.
Q. Brdssa Bose Mim. sur les Chines, p. 319.; Chene Brosse at Nantes ; Chene nain Bonam i ; bearsso great an analogy to Q. pyrenkica (see p. 1842.), that, according to Bose, it may possibly be only avariety of that species : the leaves are, however, smaller and less velvety; the divisions are larger, widerapart, and more obtuse; and the margins are less frequently denticulated. The leaves are cordiform,and slightly unequal at the base. The acorns (which Bose had only seen when young) are borne fiveor six together on a long peduncle: the scales of their cups are broad and long. Bose found this oakin great abundance between Perigueux and Bordeaux. De Candolle found it near Mons, Angers,and Nantes, where it was known by the name of Ch&ne Brosse. It grows in the most arid soil, whereit is a low shrub, and appears to be the same that Bonami called the chene nain. In good soil itgrows much larger, and, Bose observes, has probably been confounded with a variety of Q. sessiliflbra,and Q, apennlna, under the name of chene & trochets.
£). vhnindlis Bose Mem. sur les Chenes, p. 316. ; Chene Saule, Chene Osier, Chene de Haie, Fr.(see p. 1737.); is found in the departments in the east of France. It is common on the Jura, and'onthe mountains of the Vosges. It seldom grows higher than 6 ft. or 8 ft., with a grey bark ; leavesresembling those of Q. peduncul&ta, but much smaller, of a brighter green, and always very smooth.The fruit is sessile, and the nut is deeply buried in the cup. The wood is white, and so pliant, that itis extremely difficult to break it. Excellent hedges are made of this species in the countries where itis indigenous, because it produces its shoots constantly from the collar, and, consequently, forms a verythick mass of branches, which cross each other, and often form natural grafts. When these hedgesare cut down, the larger pieces of the wood are used for fuel, and the smaller shoots made into baskets,which are of very great duration. The stools throw up strong, straight, flexible shoots, 5ft. or 6ft.in length, which are excellent for all the purposes of wickerwork. According to Bose, this speciesdoes not change its nature by transplanting; as a tree at Versailles has exactly the same aspect whichthose have which grow between Langres and Dijon, where, he says, the species is well known to theinhabitants as being quite distinct. So desirable a kind ought certainly to be introduced into Britain;and plants may, doubtless, be obtained from Dijon, or from Messrs. Audibert, at Tarascon.
Q. dspera Bose Mem. sur les Chenes, p. 328.; le Chene &pre, Fr. ; has the leaves petioled, cori-aceous, of a medium size, elongated irregularly, but not deeply lobed; the lobes broad, pointed, andmucronated. The upper surface of the leaf is studded with small tubercles, beset with stiff'bristle-like hairs, disposed in stars, which are very rough to the touch ; the under surface is downy. Thisspecies does not attain any great height Bose states that this oak stands the open air in the neigh-bourhood of Paris ; from which circumstance it may possibly not belong to Q. I' lex, which requiresprotection there during winter.
Chine Lixermien Bose Mem. sur les Chenes, p. 328., is nearly allied to the preceding kind ; butthe leaves are sessile, oval, and simply, though broadly, dentated : they are mucronated and roughabove, and downy beneath. Bose does not mention any Latin name to this oak, but states that hegave its French name in honour of the director of the nursery in which it grew. He adds, “ I havereceived a specimen of this species under the name of chene Turner; but, as I have stated before,
I think that name belongs to the chene de Gibraltar [Q. Pseildo-Stiber).” Like the preceding sort, thechene Lezermien is said to be hardy in the neighbourhood of Paris.
Chine Castilian Bose Mem. sur les Chines, p. 328., has the leaves oval, pointed, slightly to-mentose beneath, with unequal teeth, each terminated by a sharp turned up point. The acornsare borne three or four together on short peduncles. Bose found this oak in great abundance inSpain, on the sandy mountains of Old Castile. He observes that it has been probably confoundedwith (i. {ispera and the chene Lezermien, to which it is very nearly allied; and adds, “ I havenever seen specimens of it more than 10 ft. or 12 ft, high. Its wood appears to be very hard. Itsacorns are eaten both raw and cooked, as are those of the two above-named kinds. Their taste is veryinferior to that of the chestnut; but it is not disagreeable. The consumption of these acorns in Spainis considerable, if I may judge from the quantities of them that I saw in the market at Burgos, whenI passed through that town. This oak grows in the poorest soils.” From the above description, itappears to us not improbable that the chene Castilian may be the Q. gramfintia L.
Q. lusitdnica Lamb. Diet., 1. p. 719., Willd., No. 32., N. Du Ham., 7. p. 162., Smith in Rees’sCycl., No. 39.; Q. valentlna Cav. Ic., 2. p. 25. t. 129., and our Jig. 1817.; /ibbur 4., Clust, Hist., p. 18.,and ftobur 5. p. 19.; Galla, sive /£6bur majus Ger. *"■
Emac., 1348., andG. minor Ger. Emac., p. 1349.; thePortuguese Gall Oak ; Chene du Portugal, Fr.; hasthe leaves elliptical, with deep pointed serratures;downy beneath. Fruit racemose. Calyx hemi-spherical. Nut oblong. [Willd.') A shrub, or lowtree, somewhat resembling Q. infeetdria ; anativeofPortugal, said to have been introduced into Englandin 1824. Lamarck says that this species consists ofseveral varieties, all very low shrubs, subject to beargalls; their branches copious and slender; theirleaves small, intermediate in form between the ever-green and the ordinary oaks of Europe. Willdenowdescribes the leaves as 1 in. long, oblong, obtuse, andrigid; their serratures somewhat pointed; the uppersurface polished and smooth ; the under hoary withslender, starry, crowded hairs. Footstalks short. Fruit racemose, or, rather, on a sort of spike.Willdenow adds that the figure of Cavanilles scarcely answers to the plant in question; and, indeed,that author describes his species as a tree taller than Q. /'lex, with deciduous leaves, and largesolitary acorns. [See fig. 1817., reduced from the figure of Cavanilles, and which shows a gall on oneof the leaves.) Bose says that this species is cultivated in the Pcpiui^re du Roule, where it was ashrub from 5 ft. to 6 ft. in height, and retained its leaves till the end of winter. It flowered freely,but did not produce any fruit, and could only be propagated by inarching. Capt. Cook, as we haveseen p. 1906. thinks this species the Q.. Ballbta of Valencia, and the same as the Q. Ballbta ofwhich he saw plants some years ago at Messrs. Malcolm’s.
Q-. prasina Pers. Syn., 2. p. 568., N. Du Ham., 7. p. 161. t. 44. f. 1., and our fig. 1818.; Q. glaticaBose Mini, sur les Chines, p. 26.; has the leaves persistent, oval-oblong, dentated, and rather spiny;very smooth, and glaucous; acorns on peduncles. This oak does not attain a great height; but,according to the Nouveau I)u Hamel, it partakes more of the character of a tree than of a shrub.From a specimen in the Jardin des Plantes, it appears that the full-grown tree would probably beabout 15ft. or2Uft. high, with numerous,tdender, spreading branches, perfectly smooth. The leaves
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