Forest Trees and Shrubs of Meriden, Conn. 61 



II. CUPULIFER^. The Oak Family. 



13. QUERCUS ALBA. (Linn.) 



White Oak. 



One of our finest and naost valuable forest trees. Grows in 

 Meriden from sixty to eighty feet high, with stem from two to five 

 feet in diameter. Wood strong, very heavy, hard, tough, close 

 grained, liable to check unless carefully seasoned, durable in con- 

 tact with the soil. The wood is always in great demand for a 

 variety of purposes, especially for agricultural implements, car- 

 riages, interior finish, cabinet making, etc. A decoction of the 

 astringent inner bark is employed medicinally where astringents 

 are indicated. Specific gravity, 0.7470 ; ash, 0.41. 



14. QUERCUS MACROCARPA. (Michaux.) 

 Burr Oak. Mossy-cup Oak. Over-cup Oak. 



A handsome tree with luxuriant foliage and remarkably large 

 acorns. Grows from fifty to eighty feet high, with stem four feet 

 or over in diameter. Wood heavy, strong, hard, tough, close 

 grained, more durable in contact with the soil than other Oaks. 

 It is of little value except for fuel. Specific gravity, 0.7453 ; ash, 

 0.71. 



15. QUERCUS OBTUSILOBA. (Michaux.) VAR. 



Q. STELLATA. (Wagenheim.) 



Post Oak. Rough Oak. Barren White Oak. Iron Oak. 



A medium sized tree, forty to fifty feet high. Wood heavy, hard, 

 close-grained, compact, checking badly in drying. Resembles 

 White Oak. Used for fencing, cooperage and fuel. Specific grav- 

 ity, 0.8367 ; ash, 0.79. 



16. QUERCUS BICOLOR. (Willdenou.) 



Swamp White Oak. 



A large tree, sixty to eighty feet high, and stem five to eight 

 feet in diameter. Wood closely resembling the White Oak, heavy, 

 hard, strong, tough, close-grained, inclined to check in seasoning. 

 Specific gravity, 0.7662 ; ash, 0.58. 



