The Trees of VERAroNT 117 



FAGACEAE 



Bur Oak. Over-cui) Oak. Mossy-cup Oak 

 Quercus macrocarpa Michx. 



Habit. — A medium-sized tree 40-60 feet high, with a trunk 2-4 

 feet in diameter ; great, spreachng branches form a broad, rugged 

 crown. 



Leaves. — Akernate, simple, 6-10 inches long and one-half as 

 broad ; obovate to oblong, wedge-shaped at the base ; crenately lobed, 

 usually cut nearly to the midrib by two opposite sinuses near the mid- 

 dle ; thick and firm ; dark green and shining above, pale pubescent 

 beneath ; petioles short, stout. 



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

 slender, hairy catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short- 

 stalked, reddish, tomentose ; calyx 4-6-lobed, yellow-green, downy; 

 corolla 0; stamens 4-6, with yellow anthers; stigmas bright red. 



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

 very variable in size and shape ; cup typically deep, cup-shaped, tomen- 

 tose, fringed at the rim, inclosing one-third or all of the nut ; nut broad- 

 ovoid, 3^2-1^ inches long, brownish, pubescent; kernel white, sweet 

 and edible. 



Winter-buds.— Terminal bud ji inch long, broadly ovoid or 

 conical, red-brown, pale-pubescent. 



Bark. — Twigs yellow-brown, thick-tomentose, becoming ash-gray 

 or brownish ; branches with corky ridges ; thick and gray-brown on the 

 trunk, deeply furrowed. 



Wood. — Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very durable, 

 brownish, with thin, pale sapwood. 



Distribution. — Occasional in the Champlain valley, more com- 

 mon in Addison county. 



Habitat.— Prefers rich, moist soil ; bottom-lands. 



Notes. — The bur oak is easily recognized by its mossy cups. It 

 is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree, but on account of its large 

 size it is suitable only for parks and large estates. Commercially its 

 wood is not distinguished from the white oak. 



