172 



NATIVE OAKS USEFUL AS SHADE TREES IN THIS STATE. 



The distribution over the state of the oaks that are 

 most iinportant for shade purposes in this state follows. 

 Quotation marks enclose the statements made in Mohr's 

 Plant Life of Alabama regarding the special habitat of 

 each of the species. The species are arranged alphabeti- 

 cally by the scientific names. 



SCAKT.ET OAK. Qucrcas coccinea ]\ruench).— This 

 well knoAvn oak is frequent in the mountain region in 

 "dry uplands, sandy and rocky soil." 



LAUREL OAK. (Qtiercus laurifolia Michx — .This 

 species occurs over the southern half of the state but is 

 most characteristic of the central pine belt and the coast 

 plain. It occurs in "low rich woods." This is one of 

 our most highly prized shade trees on account of its ever- 

 green foliage. 



WATER OAK. (Quercus nigra L.) — This oak is 

 rather common from the Tennessee river valley south to 

 the coast occurring naturally in "low rich woods and 

 sandy pine-barren swamj)s." This tree is very mdely 

 planted as a shade tree in every part of the state. 



WILLOW OAK. (Quercus pheUos L.) — This species 

 is found from the Tennessee river valley southward to 

 the central pine belt of the state but is not common in 

 the southern half of the state. It occurs "in the bottom 

 lands, borders of swamps. Most frequent in the coves of 

 the Tennessee basin in low woods of a cold damp soil." 

 This is also widely planted as a shade tree and in some 

 towns practically to the exclusion of all other oaks. 



BLACK OAK OR QUERCITRON OAK. {Quercus 

 vehitUui Lam.) — This species occurs from the Tennessee 



