FAGACEAE 



Laurel Oak 

 Quercus laurifolia Michx. 



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

 in diameter (max. 100 by 8 feet); dense, rounded crown. 



LEAVES. Nearly evergreen, falling in early spring just before 

 new leaves appear; elliptical to oblong-lanceolate; 2-4 inches 

 long; entire or wavy, occasionally 3-lobed at apex; bristle-tipped; 

 bright green above, paler below; glabrous. 



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

 Vi-Vi inch long, nearly black, hemispherical; enclosed at base 

 by shallow cup with thin, red-brown, hairy scales; inner surface 

 of nut shell woolly; kernel bitter. 



TWIGS. Slender; red-brown; glabrous. Winter buds: 1/10- 

 1/8 inch long, ovoid, pointed, with tight, bright red scales. 



BARK. Thick, nearly black, deeply furrowed with broad, 

 flat ridges; dark brown and smooth or scaly when young. 



WOOD. Little used; similar to Q. borealis. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Similar to Q. velutina; moist 

 sites; produces abundant seed corps; short-lived. 



* * * 

 Shingle Oak 



Quercus imbricaria Michx. 



HABIT. A medium-sized tree 50-60 feet high and 2-3 feet 

 in diameter (max. 4 feet); narrow, rounded crown. 



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

 and lustrous above, paler and hairy below. 



FRUIT. Maturing in 2 years; usually short-stalked; acorn 

 J/2-/4 inch long, chestnut-brown, ovoid; enclosed for Vz or 

 less of length in bowl-shaped cup with thin, red-brown, appressed, 

 hairy scales; inner surface of net shell woolly; kernel bitter. 



TWIGS. Slender; green-brown. Winter buds: H inch long, 

 brown. 



BARK. Thick; gray-brown; shallowly furrowed and ridged. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Similar to Q. velutina; moist 



sites. 



* * * 



The bluejack oak, Q. incana Bartr., is a similar small tree of 

 dry, sandy sites entending from Virginia to Florida and west 

 to Texas. It is characterized by small elliptical leaves, blue- 

 green above and white woolly below. 



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