HARDWOOD RECORD 



23 



In considering the commercial species of 

 oak, Spanish, or finger oak as it is often 

 classified, must not be neglected. This tree is 

 one of the more or less limited group of the 

 merchantable red oaks, which includes common 

 red oak, Qxiercus rubra; scarlet oak, Querotts 

 coceinea ; Texas red oak, Quercus Texana, and 

 Qwrcus catesbaei, in addition to the Spanish 

 oak. The value of red oak lumber is con- 

 stantly increasing in proportion to its 

 utilization. Consumers are realizing 

 more fully as time goes on the adapt- 

 ability of this wood to many of the 

 uses for which white oak has hereto- 

 fore been considered the only wood 

 that could qualify. There are various 

 grades of red oak considered as spe- 

 cies, and the ordinary red oak, Quer- 

 cus rubra, is probably the best. The 

 others qualify in about the order 

 given above, though Quercus digitata, 

 Spanish oak, possesses very fair phys- 

 ical properties. 



The tree is said to have derived its 

 common name from the fact that the 

 early Spanish settlers noticed a strik- 

 ing resemblance in its leaves to those 

 of an oak growing in Spain. This 

 growth is nowhere found in pure 

 stands, though in the Gulf and At- 

 lantic states of its range it is abun- 

 dant; it does not penetrate northward 

 except along the basin of the Missis- 

 sippi and in a narrower belt along 

 the coast. In certain sections of the 

 South, where rich, deep soil and abun- 

 dant moisture prevail, forest growth 

 is usually too rapid, and the wood 

 from trees of such environment is con- 

 sequently rather open in structure. 

 While the supply of oak found in 

 this section is perhaps the largest 

 remaining stand, there is in all prob- 

 ability not over a ten years' cut left. 



Beginning in the northern half of 

 Florida, the range of Spanish oak 

 Includes all the Gulf states to central 

 Texas. From there it ranges up 

 through eastern Indian Territory and 

 through Arkansas, reaching southern 

 Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, and 

 thence grows down through western 

 Kentucky and Tennessee to northern 

 Georgia and on up the Atlantic states 

 to middle New Jersey. The tree is 

 found in excellent stands on dry hois. 

 In many sections of its range and in other 

 places it thrives remarkably well on compara- 

 tively low, flat, moist ground. 



Spanish oak is the common name usually 

 applied to this tree in all localities, though 

 there are other more or less local appella- 

 tions distinguishing it from other species. 



AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



EIGHTY-SIXTH PAPER 

 Spanish Oak 



Qu-ercus digitata — Marsh. 



In Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South 

 Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Lou- 

 isiana, Texas, Missouri and Illinois, the name 

 Spanish oak is commonly used. Bed oak is a 

 local name in North Carolina, Virginia, 

 Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louis- 

 iana and Indiana. In Louisiana the tree is 

 also known as Spanish water oak, and in 



TYPICAL FOREST GROWTH SPANISH OAK, 

 NORTHWESTEUN MISSISSIPPI 



sections of most of the Atlantic states the 

 term finger oak is often applied. 



When growing freely, without hindrance, 

 the Spanish oak develops a broad, heavily- 

 limbed crown, with stiff, stout twigs. In 

 height it reaches a hundred feet, though this 

 is rather unusual. The diameter is often 



as much as four feet. The trunk is vested 

 in a firm, close-fitting, ridged bark, the ridges 

 being brownish in color and scaly, while be- 

 tween, in the fissures, the reddish inner bark 

 shows through. 



The foliage of the Spanish oak is peculiar 

 and not to be mistaken, owing to the droop- 

 ing nature of the leaves. It is often difficult 

 to identify Spanish oak leaves when 

 not connected with the tree, as there 

 are a variety of forms having no ap- 

 parent resemblance to each other. 

 Two of the common forms are shown 

 in connection with this article and 

 give a fair idea of what can usually 

 be expected. These illustrations, how- 

 ever, were photographed from new 

 spring leaves and represent the fo- 

 liage when not completely developed. 

 The usual form of the Spanish oak 

 leaves is a large, triangular, basal 

 section, and from three to seven 

 pointed lobes; the upper surface is 

 green and the lower surface is cov- 

 ered with a close pubescence. The 

 staminate flowers are thin and 

 pubescent; the stigmas, red and 

 slender. The acorns are usually 

 sessile, half an inch long and cov- 

 ered for one-third of their length 

 with thin, flat cups. 



Wood from the Spanish oak tree 

 shows the distinct reddish color of 

 red oak lumber in general. The sap- 

 wood is somewhat lighter than the 

 heart, and can be readily distin- 

 guished. Large, open, spring duets 

 denote the rings of growth conspic- 

 uously, especially in samples of the 

 wood taken from the moist southern 

 forests, where the rapid growth and 

 consequent heavy rings give it a close 

 grain. A radial section shows a 

 blotchy appearance, as the rays, 

 while large, are not numerous. Phys- 

 ically, the wood is heavy, hard and 

 strong, possessing but mediocre last- 

 ing qualities, and in seasoning is 

 liable to check seriously. The opera- 

 tion must be attended with great care 

 and the process gradual, in order to 

 accomplish satisfactory results. While 

 slightly inferior to northern red oak 

 and not well suited to fine cabinet 

 work or interior finish, it finds ap- 

 plication quite extensively in coop- 

 erage and construction, and large quantities 

 are consumed annually. The bark contains 

 a fair percentage of tannin, and is of con- 

 siderable commercial importance. One cubic 

 foot of airdried wood weighs forty-three 

 pounds. 



The Spanish oak tree shown in connection 



