The Trees of Vermont V2i 



FAGACEAE 



Yellow Oak. Chestnut Oak 



Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm. [Quercus acuminata (Michx.) 



Houba] 



Habit. — A small to medium-sized tree 30-40 feet high, with a 

 trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; erect, somewhat short branches form a 

 narrow, rounded crown. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, 4-7 inches long, 1-4 inches broad; ob- 

 long-lanceolate to obovate ; coarsely toothed ; thick and firm ; lustrous, 

 yellow-green above, pale-pubescent beneath ; petioles slender, about 1 

 inch long. 



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

 hairy catkins 3-4 inches long ; the pistillate sessile or in short spikes, 

 hoary-tomentose ; calyx campanulate, 5-8-lobed, yellow, hairy ; corolla 

 ; stamens 5-8, with yellow anthers ; stigmas red. 



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

 cup with small scales, hoary-tomentose, inclosing one-half of the nut ; 

 nut ovoid, about -14 inch long, light brown ; kernel sweet, sometimes 

 edible. 



Winter-buds. — Terminal bud 3s """^h long, conical, acute; scales 

 chestnut-brown, scarious on the margin. 



Bark. — Twigs greenish at first, becoming gray-brown, finally gray 

 or brown ; thin, silvery gray or ash colored and flaky on the trunk. 



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

 brown, with thin, pale brown sapwood. 



Distribution. — Rare ; reported from Gardiner's island in Take 

 Champlain, Malletts Head, Ferrisburg and Colchester. 



Habitat. — Dry limestone hillsides ; rocky river-banks and lake- 

 shores. 



Notes. — This oak is a very beautiful tree and is well adapted for 

 use in parks and on lawns on account of its handsome foliage. 



