One of the commonest and largest of the Oaks of the Atlantic states, the Red Oak, in the forest sometimes surpasses 100 ft. in height with columnar trunk 3 or 4 ft. or more in diameter. When isolated from other trees it develops a wide rounded top with few large far-reaching branches. It inhabits rich uplands, well drained slopes and river banks, in company with the White and Red Pines, Aspen, Balsam Poplar, Red Maple, etc., among which its shining dark green foliage shows in pleasing contrast. Seeming possessed of a constitution hardier or more adaptable than other Oaks it ranges farther north than any other species and is more abundantly grown in Europe than any other American Oak.

The wood of this species, though inferior to that of the White Oak, is largely used for interior finishing, furniture, etc. A cu. ft. when absolutely dry weighs 40.76 lbs.1

Leares oval to obovate, 5-9 in. long, obtuse or rounded at base, acute or acuminate at apex, pinnately divided about half way to midrib with oblique sinuses rounded at the bottom and triangular lobes broad at base and 1-3-toothed at apex with bristle-pointed teeth, at maturity glab rous dark green above, paler and usually glabrous beneath. Flowers (May-June): staminate in pubescent aments, 3-5 in. long; calyx 4-5-lobed: stamens 4-6 pistillate flowers with glabrous peduncles; styles elongated and spreading. Fruit, ripe in October, of the second year after flowering solitary or in pairs, with short stalk; acorn oval with broad flat base, 4-14 in. long, shell tomentose inside, abortive ovules apical, acorn subtended by a very shallow saucer of closely imbricated puberulous scales.2

1. A. W., I, 15.

2. For genus see pp. 430-431.

Fig. 161. Branchlet with leaves and fruit and young acorns, 1; branchlet in winter bearing young acorns and leaf-buds.

This tree in the rich bottom-lands of the Wabash River basin is said to attain a height of nearly 200 ft., with sturdy buttressed trunk sometimes 7-8 ft. in diameter and 80-90 ft. to its branches dimensions which would make this one of the largest of the American Oaks - but such a size is very exceptional, as it is usually a much smaller tree. It is common along the banks of streams and bottomlands of the Mississippi basin in company with the Cottonwood, River Birch, Sour Gum, Sweet Gum, Hackberry, Coffee-tree, Red and Silver Maples, etc. In the extreme western part of its range it is sometimes found fruiting as a large shrub.

Its wood is considered by lumbermen as of better grade than that of the Northern Red Oak. It is applied to the same uses as that timber and is generally not distinguished from it in commerce.2

Leaves ovate to broad oval, 3-8 in. long, truncate or broad wedge-shaped at base, deeply pinnatifid with broad rounded sinuses and 5-9 spreading lobes narrow below and spreading and dentate at apex with bristle-pointed teeth, at maturity thin, firm and shining dark green above paler and with tufts of whitish hairs in axils beneath. Flowers: staminate in slender pubescent aments; calyx 4-5 with laciniately cut lobes; pistillate with short tomentose peduncles, stigmas red. Fruit usually solitary, sessile or with short stalks, ovoid, puberulous light brown acorn, -1% in. long, sometimes striated, 2-3 times as high as the shallow or somewhat turbinate cup with thin closely appressed light brown tomentose scales.

1. Syn. Quercus Schneckii Britt. 2. A. W. XII, 294.

I

Fig. 163. Branchlets with mature leaves and fruit, 1; branchlet in winter bearing young acorns and leaf-buds, 2.

The Pin Oak occasionally attains the height of 70 or 80 ft. with trunk 2 or 3 ft. in diameter vested in a close smoothish bark. When growing in the open it develops an oblong or narrow rounded top of many upright and spreading branches, the lowermost reaching downwards nearly to the ground. It is one of our most distinct and beautiful Oaks, with its clear-cut, handsome leaves and smooth columnar trunks, and well worthy of more extensive planting for ornamental purposes. It naturally grows in deep rich soil of bottom-lands and the borders of ponds and swamps in company with the Sour Gum, Sweet Gum. Red Maple, Swamp Poplar, Water Beech, Hornbeam, etc., but thrives well when transplanted to dryer situations.

The wood of the Pin Oak is used for interior finishing, shingles, clap-boards, etc., and in cooperage. A cu. ft. when absolutely dry weighs 43.24 lbs.1

Leaves obovate and broad oblong in outline, 4-6 in. long, pinnatified with broad rounded sinuses and 5-7 spreading lobes wide near apex and usually each 2-3-toothed and bristle-tipped, at maturity lustrous dark green above, paler and with tufts of pale hairs in axils beneath; petioles slender. Flowers: staminate aments slender, pubescent, 2-3 in. long; calyx lobes denticulate; pistillate with tomentose peduncles and slender spreading bright red stigmas. Fruit: acorns maturing second year, subglobose or nearly hemispherical, about 1/2 in. in diameter, with light brown shell, tomentose inside and with thin saucer-shaped or slightly turbinate cup with thin closely appressed puberulous scales.