HaISiDBOOK of ThKKS of TJIK NORTIIEUN StATES AND CaNADA. 139 



One of the commonest and largest of the 

 Oaks of the Atlantic states, the Red Oak, in 

 the forest sometimes surpasses 100 ft. in height 

 with columnar trunk 3 or 4 ft. or more in 

 diameter. When isolated from other trees it 

 develops a wide rounded top with few large 

 far-reaching branches. It inliabits rich up- 

 lands, well drained slopes and river banks, in 

 company with the White and Red Pines, Aspen, 

 Balsam Poplar, Red Maple, etc., among which 

 its shining dark green foliage shows in pleas- 

 ing contrast. Seeming possessed of a con- 

 stitution hardier or more adaptable than other 

 Oaks it ranges farther north than any other 

 species and is more abundantly grown in Eu- 

 rope than any other American Oak. 



The wood of this species, though inferior to 

 that of the White Oak, is largely used for in- 

 terior finishing, furniture, etc. A cu. ft. when 

 absolutely dry weighs 40.76 Ibs.i 



in. lonjj, obtuse or 

 uminate at apex, pin- 

 way to 



Lrnvcs oval to obovate, 

 rounded at base, acute or 



nately divided about half way to midrib with 

 obliijiie sinuses rounded at the bottom and tri- 

 ansiilar lobes broad at base and l-.'vtoothed at 

 apex with bristle-pointed teeth, at maturity glab- 

 rous dark green above, paler and usually glabrous 

 beneath. Flowers (May-.Tune) : staminate in 

 pubescent aments. .S-.") in' long : calyx 4-r.-lobed ; 

 stamens 4-6 : pistillate tlowers with glabrous 

 peduncles : styles elongated and spreading. Fruit, 

 ripe in October, of the second year after flowering 

 solitary or in pairs, with short stalk ; acorn oval 

 with broad fiat base, %-lV4 in. long, shell to- 

 mentose inside, abortive ovules apical, acorn sub- 

 tended by a very shallow saucer of closely im- 

 bricated puberulous scales." 



