MONCECIA.
POLY A N D .
27'S
a purplish colour. Berries crowded into an oblong spike, of a bright
scarlet colour.
15. POTERIUM.
1. P. Sanguisorba [common Burnet), thorns none, stem some­
what angular, stamens much longer than the cal. Ё . В. t. 8G0.
НАБ. Dry pastures, occasionally. Sandy banks near the Clyde at
Daibeith, Hopk. Daldowie, Dr. Brown. Road-side between Dun­
fermline and Saline: and Eildon hills, near Montrose, Maugh.
Ft. July.
U.
Stems 1—2 feet high. Leaves pinnate. Leaflets ovate, serrated.
Flowers on longish terminal stalks, in round heads of a dull purplish
colour. Sterile fl. mostly at the base • fertile ones mostly at the
extremity. Style much exserted, with a large radiated stigma.
16. QUERCUS.
1. Q . Robur {common British Oak), leaves deciduous dilated
towards the extremity, obovato-oblong sinuated and lobed their
sinuses rather acute their lobes obtuse, fruitstalks elongated.
Ligh'lf. p. 5 8 1 . E. B. t. 1342.
НАЛ. In the Lowlands, frequent; in the Highlands very dwarfish, sel­
dom attaining to a trunk, except in sheltered situations near gen­
tlemen's houses, Light/. Fl. May. tj .
The uses of the Wood and the bark of this most invaluable tree are
too generally known to require that I should speak of them here.
The acorns were formerly the food of our British ancestors; but are
now left to hogs and squirrels.
2. Q . sessiliflora [sessile-fruited Oak), leaves deciduous petiolate
oblong sinuated and lobed the sinuses rather acute the lobes
obtuse, fruit sessile. E. B. t. 1S45.
HAB. Rosslyn woods, Maugh. Edge of Birnam Wood, near.Dunkeld,
and it is probably not uncommon, Hook. Fl. May. ^ .
This species is well distinguished from Q. Robur by its sessile fruit:
. its .wood also is said to be very inferior to that of the common oak.
17. CASTANEA.
1. C. vulgaris (Spanish Chesnut^Tree), leaves oblongo.-lanceolate acuminate mucronato-serrate glabrous on each side. De­
cano , FL Gall. Syn. p. 181. E. В. I. 8S(j {Fagus-Castanea).
HAB. This occurs in plantations, but is not indigenous, Light/. Fl.
'• May. Tj .
Surely a distinct genus from Fagus, although the learned and excel­
lent author of E. Bot. is of a different opinion, and condemns Gaertner for separating it. This beautiful tree is now much cultivated
in plantations for its timber. Evelyn tells us " it hath formerly
built a good part of our ancient houses in the city of London. I had
once a very large barn near the city entirely framed of it." It af­
fords excellent stakes for pallisades and props for vines and hops.
It is good for mill timber and for water-works ; but if water touch
the roots of'the growing tree it spoils both the fruit and timber.
1