Handbook of Trees of the Northekn States and Canada. 105 



The Whito Onk i^ nno of tlio most useful 

 trees of tlic Aimricin fiiri'-.ts. uttuining under 

 most favorable ooiulit inin w licii yrowinj,' in the 

 ture^t a lieiyht of l.'iU ft. ami trunk 4-.') ft. in 

 diameter. When isolated from oilier trees its 

 habit is to form a vny l)ni,id top of firm, rigid 

 horizontal branelics and >liort tliick trunk — 

 the emblem of strengtli ;uid snlidity. It tiikcs 

 its name from the lii^lit cnlor of thr scily ridgpil 

 i.nrk. tlie aptness of which is >ho\vn in tlie 

 accompanying illustration. it is one of tlu' 

 most common and gcniTil]\- distributed Oaks 

 of the Atlantic states and .M is^i>-,ippi basin, 

 growing alike on rich u]il mds and ri\er bot- 

 toms where not too moist, in company with 

 several of the Hickories. Tnlipt ree. Sweet and 

 Sour Gums, Magnolias. Ited and other Oaks. 

 etc. 



Its wood, of which a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighs 4(i..S.) lbs., is the standard of 

 excellence among the Oaks and is used for fur- 

 niture-making, interior finishing, cooperage, the 

 manufacture of agriculutral im|)lements. bas- 

 kets, railroad ties, etc.. and for fuel.i 



Lrarrx obovate to olilnim. wcdue sliaped at base, 

 sinuate pinnatifid witli iisn.illy .".7 broad, but 

 sometimes narrow, obliiim rdiiinleil entire lolies. 

 red and pale pubescent wlnu tlie.v unfold lint 

 finally .glabrous dark green above, paler beneath. 

 4-0 in. Ions, turning rich dark red in autumn, 

 witherina: and hangin? to the branches until late 

 in the winter; petioles stout glabrous. Floiros 

 staminate aments 21/.-4 in. Inns:; cal.Vs .yellow, 

 pubescent; stamen*: 6S; pistillate with broad in 

 volucral scales and short dilated stigmas. Fniit 

 maturing the first aiUnmn. sessile or nearly so. 

 abortive ovules basal : acorn avoid oblong, lustrous, 

 about % in. long and about 'i covered by the 

 flattish hemispheric tomentose cup. warty below 

 with thickened and united scales which near tlie 

 rim are thin and membranuiis. 



I A. W.. II. 38. 





