58 



Common Trees 



BUR OAK 



Quercus macvocarpa, Michaux 



THE Bur Oak, also called Mossy Cup Oak and Over 

 Cup Oak, is one of the largest of American Oaks. It 

 reaches a height of 100 feet and 5 feet in diameter. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, 6 to 12 inches long. 3 

 to 6 inches wide, 

 shiny and deep 

 green above, pale 

 and finely hairy 

 beneath. Near the 

 middle are deep 

 clefts that almost 

 divide the leaves 

 in two parts. 



The flowers and 

 wood are similar 

 to those of White 

 Oak. 



The fruit is a 

 large acorn matur- 

 ing in one season. 

 The nuts are ^4 of 

 an inch long with 

 a white and sweet 

 kernel. The cup 

 covers about half 

 of nut and is bor- 

 dered by a dis- 

 tinct fringe along 

 margin. bur oak 



One-third natural size. 



The twigs are 

 stout, yellowish- 

 brown and usually marked with corky winged projections. 

 The buds arc alternate, y» of an inch long, blunt-pointed, 

 reddish-brown, clustered at end of twigs. The bark becomes 

 deeply furrowed and has a tendency to peel off in flaky scales. 



The Bur Oak is found from New Brunswick and Nova 

 Scotia west to Manitoba and south to Pennsylvania, Kansas 

 and Texas. This tree occurs throughout Ohio, being com- 

 mon in the western part and less frequent in the northeastern 

 and southeastern sections. 



The Bur Oak is a valuable timber tree and used sometimes 

 for ornamental planting. It is easy to transplant, grows 

 rapidly, has few insect enemies. Its wood is similar to tha^ 

 of White Oak. 



