POST OAK 



{QiieyciLs stellata Wang., formerly Q. minor Sarg.) 



TTHE post oak is often a medium-sized tree, with a 

 rounded crown, commonly reaching a height of 

 50 to 80 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2 feet, but some- 

 times attains large size. It occurs throughout most 

 of the State, ascending in the mountains to 2,500 

 feet ; it is most abundant on the poorer soils of the 

 middle districts, and least abundant in the southern 

 portions. 



POfeT QAK 

 One-third natural size. 



The bark is rougher and darker than the white oak 

 and broken into smaller scales. The stout young 

 twigs and the leaves are coated at first with a thick 

 light-colored fuzz which soon becomes darker and 

 later drops away entirely. 



The leaves are usually 4 to 5 inches long and 

 nearly as broad, deeply 5-lobed with broad rounded 

 divisions, the lobes broadest at the ends. They are 

 thick and somewhat leathery, dark green and shiny 

 on the upper surface, lighter green and rough hairy 

 beneath. 



The flowers, like those of the other oaks, are of 

 two kinds on the same tree, the male in drooping, 

 clustered catkins, the female inconspicuous. The 

 fruit is an oval acorn, one-half to 1 inch long, set in a 

 rather small cup which may or may not be stalked. 



The wood is very heavy, hard, close-grained, light 

 to dark brown, durable in contact with the soil. 

 It is used for crossties and fence posts, and along 

 with other oaks of the white oak class for furniture 

 and other purposes. 



34 



