OF Ohio 



61 



RED OAK 



Quercus rubra. Linnaeus 



THE Red Oak is one of the biggest, stateliest and hand- 

 somest trees of eastern North America. As early as 

 1740 it was introduced into Europe. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 9 inches long, 4 to 

 6 inches wide, 7 to 9-lobed. Lobes are bristle-tipped and 

 separated by clefts that 

 reach halfway to midrib. 



The flowers appear 

 with the leaves. The pol- 

 len-bearing are arranged 

 in drooping tassels; the 

 acorn-producing occur in 

 few - flowered clusters on 

 new growth. 



The fruit is an acorn 

 maturing in two seasons. 

 The cup is wide, shallow, 

 covered with over-lapping 

 reddish-brown scales, en- 

 closing only base of nut. 

 The nuts average one inch 

 long, >2 to }i of an inch 

 wide, are flat at base and 

 short-tipped at apex. 



The bark on young stems is smooth, grayish or brown. 

 On older trunks it becomes rough with furrows separating 

 wide, smooth, grayish to brownish ridges. The lateral 

 branches are straight and ascend at about an angle of 45 

 degrees. The twigs are smooth and rich brown. The buds 

 are }i of an inch long, sharp-pointed, smooth, glossy, red- 

 dish-brown, without hairs. 



The wood is heavy, hard, strong, light reddish-brown, 

 with light sapwood. It is used for furniture, interior finish- 

 ing, ties and general construction. 



The Red Oak has a wide distribution. It is found from 

 Nova Scotia to Minnesota and Kansas, south to Florida and 

 Texas. It occurs in all parts of Ohio on a wide range of 

 soils. Throughout the State it is being planted for forestry 

 purposes. Moist, porous, sandy to gravelly clay soils are 

 its favorite homes. It is one of the most important timber 

 trees of North America, reaching a height of 150 feet and an 

 age of 300 or more years. It deserves to be planted more 

 extensively for ornamental purposes. 



BED OAK 



Twig, one-half natural size. 

 L«af, one-third natural size. 



