104 TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



seedlings are plentiful in rather dry open woods. On the dry, 

 rocky uplands of the counties in the middle part of the State, a 

 considerable part of the second growth is composed of this species. 

 Trees over 3 feet in diameter are generally not sound at the heart. 

 Coppice shoots are very abundant around the stumps of smaller 

 trees. This tree is sensitive to late frosts. 



The leaves are divided into 3 to 5 prolonged, mostly narrow, 

 bristle-tipped lobes, and are downy on the lower surface. The 

 short-stemmed fruit consists of a small globose acorn half enclosed 

 in a somewhat top-shaped cup. The light brown winter-buds are 

 covered with a light reddish down. The Spanish oak has, in 

 addition to many deeply penetrating lateral roots, numerous long 

 superficial running roots. 



The wood is heavy, very hard, strong, not durable, coarse- 

 grained, and checks badly in drying; light red in color ; the sap- 

 wood lighter. It is used for cooperage, construction, and very 

 largely for fuel. The bark is rich in tannin. A large amount of 

 Spanish oak timber is still standing in the Piedmont plateau 

 region, where it is one of the most common trees. 



9 



Quercus marilandica, Muenchhausen.* 

 (BLACK-JACK OAK.) 



A small tree, with rough black bark, and drooping irregular 

 branches, reaching a height of 60 and a, diameter of 2 feet. 



It occurs from Long Island, New York, to Wisconsin, southern 

 Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and Indian Territory, and 

 south to Florida and Texas ; reaching its best development in 

 southern Arkansas, and eastern Texas. 



In North Carolina, where it has an average height of not more 

 than 25 feet, it is found upon barren clay or loam soils, gravelly 

 for the most part. It occurs in all sections, but is rare in the more 

 elevated mountain counties. 



It bears fruit plentifully about every other year; and seedlings 

 are abundant near the parent trees and in second growth woods. 



The large thick wedge-shaped leaves are smooth on the upper 

 and covered with a rusty pubescence on the lower surface. The 



*Quercus nis<ra, Linnaeus. 



