90 



Native Trees of Canada 



The bark on young trees, and even on those of considerable size, is smooth. 

 The Hmbs and upper part of the trunk are smooth and clean cut. 



The winter buds are pointed, 34 in. long, chestnut-brown, and usually smooth, 

 except for a few red haifs at the tip. They resemble the buds of the chestnut oak, 

 but are flatter and have no pale margin to the scales. They have the appearance 

 of being stalked, due to the bud being narrower at the point of attachment. 



The leaves are from 5 to 9 in. long and 4 to 6 in. wide. They have from nine 

 to thirteen lobes more than most oaks. The lobes are pointed and appear to taper 



RE[7 OAK 



more from the base to the tip than those of the black oak. The notches as a rule 

 extend half way to the midrib. They are dark green and smooth, and in autumn 

 turn a rich red. 



The acorns are characteristic and one of the best means of identifying the tree. 

 They are very large, ^ to IJ^ in. long. The cup is very shallow and thick. The 

 scales are close and form no fringe at the margin. The kernel is white and bitter. 

 The inside of the shell is somewhat downy. The acorn takes two years to develop. 



The wood of the black oak group, of which this is the most important commer- 

 cial species, is not so strong as that of the white oaks, and, having narrower medul- 

 lary rays, does not possess the same attractive figure when quarter-sawn. In 

 many cases, however, the oaks are used for similar purposes without distinction. 



