21. Quércus Cérris, L. (Turkey Oak.) Leaves on very short stalks, oblong, deeply and unequally pinnatifid, hairy beneath; lobes lanceolate, acute, somewhat angular. Acorns in the axils of the leaves of the year, ovate, with a hemispherical, bristly or mossy cup. Several varieties of this species, from Europe, are cultivated in this country. They form tall, round-headed, symmetrical trees.
Genus 89. CASTÀNEA.
Trees or shrubs with alternate, simple, straight-veined, elongated, pointed leaves. Sterile flowers in long, drooping, conspicuous catkins, blooming in June or July; the fertile ones rather inconspicuous, but forming prickly-coated burs which hang on till the frost, when they split open and let out the brown, horny-coated nuts. Wood light, coarse-grained.
| * Large tree with burs having 1 to 3 nuts | 1. |
| * Small tree with burs having 1 rounded nut | 2. |
C. satìva.
1. Castànea satìva, Mill. (Chestnut.) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, pointed, coarsely serrate, with usually awned teeth; smooth on both sides, 6 to 9 in. long, 1½ to 2¼ in. wide. Burs large, very prickly, inclosing 1 to 3 large, ovoid, brown nuts, ripe after frost, which opens the bur into 4 valves. A common large tree, with light, coarse-grained wood, and bark having coarse longitudinal ridges on the old trees. Many varieties of this species are in cultivation, varying in the size and sweetness of the nuts, the size of the trees, and the size and the margins of the leaves, some of which are almost entire. The wild species is var. Americana.
C. pùmila.