407 



Just exactly how generally some of the ten species collected are 

 distributed over the county I am unable to say. This matter will be 

 discussed with each species separately. 



The White Oaks. 



Four species of the White Oak group appear in White County. 

 These in point of number of individuals, rank as follows: (1) Q. alba L. 

 (2) Q. macrocarpa Michx. (3) Q. bicolor Willd. (4) Q. Muhlenbergii 

 Engelm. 

 Quercus alba L. White Oak. (Sp. PI. 996-1753.) 



The White Oak is one of the most numerous and perhaps the most 

 valuable tree of the county. The largest of these trees, as well as many 

 others of less maturity, have long ago disappeared. Some fairly large 

 trees are, however, still to be found. The species is quite generously 

 distributed over the entire county. 



The White Oak is readily distinguished from other oaks in spite of 

 the fact that it shows much diversity, in nearly all parts, among indi- 

 viduals of its own small group or species. The bark character varies 

 on many trees. On most younger trees and on many older ones it is 

 comparatively thin and flaky. On not infrequent large trees it is rather 

 deeply fissured with a thickness approaching three inches or more. The 

 outer appearance of the bark on these trees is a peculiar gray as a 

 rule, the inner part being a rich brown. 



The leaves vary considerably in size and shape. Specimen No. 289 

 (p. 410), is the typical form. Nos. 443 and 257, also No. 446, show slight 

 variation in size and shape. The leaves in No. 283 show a tendency 

 toward less deep lobing and the one with the lobes more divergent are 

 still further amplified in No. 467, giving a hint toward the leaf char- 

 acter of Q. stellata Wang. No. 292 is simply a large shallow lobed 

 form. The lobes of Nos. 469 (p. 417) and 282 (p. 418) are extremely 

 shallow and, by an amateur, the latter may be almost mistaken for the 

 Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor Willd.).* 



A decided diff'erence is also noted in the thickness of twigs and size 

 of the winter buds in different individuals. In some, Nos. 469 (p. 417) 

 and 282 (p. 418), the twigs are especially thin with correspondingly 



See Q. bicolor p. 411 for distinguishing leaf characters. 



