FAGACEAE 



Northern Red Oak 



Quercus rubra L. {Quercus borealis Michx.) 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 60-80 feet high and 2-4 feet 

 in diameter (max. 150 by 6 feet); broad, rounded crown. 



LEAVES. Deciduous; oblong to obovate; 5-9 inches long; 

 7-11 lobed with narrow sinuses extending half way to midrib; 

 lobes toothed and bristle-tipped; dark green above, paler below; 

 glabrous. 



FRUIT. Maturing in 2 years; sessile or nearly so; acorn 

 V2-\ inch long, pale brown, ovoid; enclosed at base or to Vz 

 length in thick cup (the shallow cup form was known as var. 

 maxima); inner surface of nut shell woolly; kernel bitter. 



TWIGS. Stout; red-brown; lustrous. Winter buds: V4 inch 

 long. 



BARK. Thick; nearly black; shallow furrows with wide, 

 flat ridges; inner bark light red. 



WOOD. Important; less strong and durable than Q. alba. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Moderately intolerant; sprouts 

 vigorously; on moist sites; rather fast growing; in mixed stands; 

 the variety maxima is no longer distinguished. 



* * * 

 Black Oak 



Quercus velutina Lam. 



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

 in diameter (150 by 8 feet); irregular, rounded crown. 



LEAVES. Deciduous; obovate to oblong; 5-9 inches long; 

 5-7 lobed with broad sinuses extending Vs-Vq of way to mid-rib; 

 lobes toothed and bristle-tipped; dark green above, paler or 

 coppery below with more or less scurfy pubescence. 



FRUIT. Maturing in 2 years; sessile or nearly so; acorn Yz- 

 % inch long, red-brown, ovoid; enclosed for Vs or less in bowl- 

 shaped cup of thin, loose, dull, woolly scales; inner surface of 

 nut shell woolly; kernel bitter. 



TWIGS. Stout; red-brown; glabrous. Winter buds; V^-Vz 

 inch long, sharp-pointed, with woolly scales. 



BARK. Thick; nearly black; deeply furrowed with narrow, 

 scaly ridges; inner bark thick, yellow, very bitter. 



WOOD. Important: similar to Q. borealis. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Moderately intolerant; similar 

 to Q. borealis; on dry to good, moist sites. 



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