Handbook of Trees of the iSToRTiiEKisr States and Canada. IS] 



The T.ivo 0:il< i-; (he ninst majestic and im- 

 pressive Uak (.1 thr Athiiilic slates. Its heij^ht, 

 rarely www than M m (U) f(.. is nut as re- 

 markable as its great spread of brandies. Rs 

 massive trunk is sometimes or S ft. in diame 

 ter and usually divides near tlie L'ldund inli) 

 a few ,;^real In anelie-.. wbieli -oiiielimes reaeii 

 uut iH.ri/ontally finm .Id in 7.") ft. — a -rcald 

 distance tlian timsc of any other American 

 tree. \'isitors to tliecoist rc-imis of t lie Soul li- 

 ern States are always ini|.ressi.d with the<e'jreat 

 and beautiful trees. After conteni|ilatinL; Ihein 

 one can hinlly realize that the same species 

 is found (in var. iiiiiiiiiiu} on sandy barrens 

 near the cost of Florida as a shrub bearing 

 fruit when no more than 1 ft. in height. 



Our bark inctuic. while it shows nicely the 

 characteristic baik of the species, tells also 

 the story of a long struggle for existence, 

 which the tree liad had with a gigantic CJrape- 

 vine. and the linal victory of the Oak. 



The wood of the Live Oak, of which a cubic 

 foot when absolutely dry weighs 59.21 lbs., 

 is so hard and dilficult to work as not to be 

 extensivcl\' u-ed nowadays, though it was 

 once highly valued for sliip-buikling before 

 iron was substituted for that purpose, and 

 Congress, in its early sessions, enacted laws 

 for perpetuating the supply. - 



Leaves evercreen, vor.v thick and coriaceous, 

 obovate olilancoolate to olilong. mostl.v rounded at 

 apes and wedire-sliaped at base with entire revo- 

 lute mar,ains (rarel.y spinose-dentate alcove the 

 middle), sliining dark green above, whitish pubes- 

 cent beneath, falling with the appearance of new 

 leaves :n the spring. Fruit with nnusuall.v Iod'j; 

 peduncles l-.'i acorns to each peduncle : acorns 

 small lustrous dark brown, ovoid to obovoid and 

 one-third covered by the tliiii tnrl>inate hoar.v- 

 tomentose cup wiib small aitpressed scales; seed 

 sweet. 



1. Syn. Querciis virens .Vit. 



2. A. W., V, 117. 



