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CHESTNUT OAK 



{Quercus montana Willd., formerly Q. prinus L.) 



CHESTNUT OAK, also known as mountain oak 

 and rock oak, has acquired these names from 

 its leaf, which resembles that of the chestnut, and 

 from its fondness for rocky or mountain ridges. 

 It is found widely distributed throughout the moun- 

 tains on dry gravelly and rocky slopes, ridges and 

 stream banks, and less commonly in the upland 

 part of the State in 

 similar dry, rocky situ- 

 ations. 



It is noticeably a 

 spreading tree of medi- 

 um height; at 15 to 20 

 feet, the trunk frequent- 

 ly divides into several 

 large, angular limbs, 

 making an open, irregu- 

 lar-shaped head. The 

 bark is dark reddish 

 brown, thick, deeply di- 

 vided into broad, 

 rounded ridges, and is 

 of high commercial 

 value for the extraction 

 of tannic acid. 

 The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong, often 

 rounded at the point, irregularly scalloped or wavy 

 on the edge (not sharp-toothed as in chestnut), 5 to 

 9 inches long, and shiny yellowish green above, 

 lighter and slightly fuzzy beneath. The fruit is an 

 acorn about an inch long, oval, shiny brown, and 

 enclosed up to half its length in a cup. It ripens 

 in one season, and, like the acorn of the white oak, 

 sprouts in the autumn soon after falling to the 

 ground. 



The wood is generally similar to that of the other 

 upland white oaks, heavy, hard, strong, and durable 

 in contact with the soil. It is extensively cut into 

 crossties and heavy timbers for bridge, railroad, and 

 other rough construction, and used for fence posts 



and fuel. 



38 



CHESTNUT OAK 



One-third natural size. 



