The Trees of Vermont 115 



FAGACEAE 



AVhite Oak 

 Quercus alba L. 



Habit. — A large tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 

 feet ; forming a short, thick trunk with stout, horizontal, far-reaching 

 limbs, more or less gnarled and twisted in old age, and a broad, open 

 crown. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, about one-half as 

 broad ; obovate to oblong ; 5-9-lobed, some with broad lobes and shallow 

 sinuses, others with narrow lobes and deep, narrow sinuses, the lobes 

 usually entire ; thin and firm ; glabrous, bright green above, pale or 

 glaucous beneath ; often persistent on the tree through the winter. 



Flowers. — May, with the leaves ; monoecious ; the staminate in 

 hairy catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short-peduncled, 

 reddish, tomentose ; calyx campanulate, 6-8-lobed, yellow, hairy ; 

 corolla 0; stamens 6-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas red. 



Fruit. — Autumn of first season ; sessile or short-stalked acorns ; 

 cup with small, brown-tomentose scales, inclosing one-fourth of the 

 nut ; nut oblong-ovoid, rounded at the apex, about ^^ inch long, light 

 brown ; kernel sweet and edible. 



Winter-buds. — Terminal bud j-i inch long, broadly ovoid, obtuse; 

 scales smooth, dark red-brown. 



Bark. — Twigs at first bright green, tomentose, later reddish, and 

 finally ashy gray ; thick, light gray or whitish on old trunks, shallowly 

 fissured into broad, flat ridges. Plate IV. 



Wood. — Very heavy, strong, hard, tough, close-grained, durable, 

 light brown, with thin, light brown sapwood. 



Distribution. — Common west of the Green mountains ; occurs 

 sparingly in the Connecticut valley as far north as Wells River. 



Habitat. — Grows well in all but very wet soils, in all open ex- 

 posures ; dry woods. 



Notes. — The white oak is the most beautiful as well as the most 

 useful of the oaks found in this part of the United States. Vermont 

 has. quite a generous supply of these trees in the Champlain valley. 

 The tough, heavy wood of the white oak needs no recommendation. 

 On account of the beauty of its grain and its capability of taking a 

 high polish, it is used extensively for furniture and for interior 

 finishing-. The famous "Charter Oak" of Connecticut was of this 

 species. 



