IIandrook of Tkees of the NoRTJiKKN States and Canada. "157 



The Water Oak, as its name implies, grows 

 naturally only on the moist bottom-lands or on 

 ridges in the vicinity of same, and attains the 

 height of 70 or 80 ft., witli cohmiiiar trunk 

 2-31^ ft. in diaiiictor. When not cruwded by 

 other trees it develops a rather narruw oblong 

 or sometimes wide rounded top witli many 

 branches. A near enough view to reveal tlie 

 many forms and sizes of its leaves surprises one 

 accustomed only to the northern oaks, wiiich 

 have leaves of generally more constant forms. 

 Being a handsome tree, of rapid growth and 

 easily transplanted, it is used extensively as a 

 shade tree in the streets and parks of the cities 

 and villages of the southern states. 



The wood of the Water Oak is hard and 

 heavy, a cubic foot when absolutely dry weigh- 

 ing 45.14 lbs., and heretofore has been little 

 used except for fuel and charcoal. - 



Leaves variable but mostly nan-ow-obovatc, 

 tiaperins gradually fiom the broad loundi'd and 

 ehtire or more or less ^-lobed apex to a cuneate 

 base; or on vigorous or sterile branchlets the 

 leaves ace pinnately lobed about half way to the 

 midrib with 8-7 short triangular oblique bristle- 

 tipped lobes: linear-lanceolate leaves with inter 

 mediate forms also occur, pubescent at first but 

 at maturity glabrous and dark green aliove. paler 

 and glabrous or with hairs in the axils of veins 

 beneath, tardily deciduous during the winter. 

 h'loiccrs: staminate aments hairy, 2-H in. lon-z : 

 calvx thin, pubescent, with 4-.^) rounded lobes : 

 pistillate with short thick tomentose pedimcles ; 

 stigmas red. recurved. F)-iiit short-stalked with 

 short globose ovoid or hemispheric ac orn, about 

 1/2 in. long, rounded and pubescent at the pointed 

 apex and scarcely half enveloped by the flat 

 saucei-- shaped cup having Ihin small closely im- 

 bricated pale-pubescent scales. 



1. Syn. Q. aquatica Walt. 



2. A. W.. V. 118. 



