FAGACEAE 



Chestnut Oak 

 Quercus prinus L. {Quercus montana Willd.) 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 50-70 feet high and 2-3 feet 

 in diameter (max. 100 by ^Vi feet); trunk often forking shortly 

 above the ground into large ascending limbs; crown broad, 

 open. 



LEAVES. Deciduous; obovate to oblong-lanceolate; 4-9 

 inches long; coarsely serrate or crenate; yellow-green and lustrous 

 above, paler and finely hairy below, petioles 1 inch long. 



FRUIT. Maturing in one year; on short petioles; acorn 

 l-lYz inches long, ovoid, chestnut-brown, lustrous; enclosed 

 for Vi or less of its length (sometimes only at base) in a thin, 

 hairy cup; inner surface of nut shell glabrous; kernel sweet. 



TWIGS. Stout; orange to red-brown. Winter buds: V^-Vi 

 inch long, bright chestnut-brown, soft-hairy and ciliate. 



BARK. Thick; dark red-brown to black; deeply furrowed 

 with broad, rounded, scaly ridges; important source of tannin. 



WOOD. Important; similar to Q. alba. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Similar to Q. alba; on poor, 

 dry sites; in pure or mixed stands. 



* * * 



Swamp Chestnut Oak 



Quercus michauxii Nutt. {Quercus prinus L.) 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 60-80 feet high and 2-3 feet 

 in diameter (max. 120 by 10 feet); straight, clear trunk; crown 

 narrow, rounded, compact. 



LEAVES. Deciduous; obovate; 5-8 inches long; coarsely 

 dentate or crenate, often with gland-tipped teeth; dark green 

 and lustrous above, silvery-white and hairy below, petioles 

 H inch long. 



FRUIT. Maturing in one year; sessile or rarely stalked; acorn 

 \-\V2 inches long, ovoid, bright brown; enclosed for Yi or less 

 of its length in a thick, woolly cup with distinct wedge-shaped 

 scales; inner surface of nut shell glabrous; kernel sweet. 



TWIGS. Stout; orange to red-brown. Winter buds: !4 inch 

 long, ovoid, acute, red, thin hairy scales with pale margins. 



BARK. Rather thick; ash-gray; scaly or irregularly furrowed 

 with scaly, narrow ridges. 



WOOD. Important; similar to Q. alba. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Similar to Q. alba; on moist 

 to wet, often inundated, sites; in mixed stands. 



[■89] 



