WATER OAK. 



105 



small globular acorn is half enclosed in a top-shaped, coarse- 

 scaled cup. The conical, bright brown winter-buds are covered, 

 like the angular twigs, with a light gray down. The buds are 

 frequently injured by late frosts. The black-jack oak has a lateral 

 root system. 



The wood is heavy, hard, and strong, and checks badly in dry- 

 ing ; dark red-brown in color; the sapwood much lighter. It is 

 little used except for fuel. 



Quercus nigra, Linnreus.* 

 (WATER OAK.) 



A small tree, with a large spreading top, dark rough bark at 

 the base of the stem and smoother gray bark above, reaching a 

 height of 80 and a diameter of 4 feet. (Plate X.) 



It occurs from Delaware through the coast and middle districts 

 to Florida and Texas, and westward to Missouri. and Indian Ter- 

 ritory ; reaching its best development in the maritime pine belt 

 of the eastern Gulf states. A common tree. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 40 to 50 

 feet and an average diameter of 12 to 20 inches, it is abundant on 

 moist soil, usually bordering swamps and streams, in the coastal 

 plain region and some parts of the Piedmont plateau region. 

 (Fig. 27.) 



MAP OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



LEGEND 



Distribution of the WATER OAK 

 (Quercus nigra, Z.) 



It is one of the commonest trees on the oak iiats about the swamps 

 of the coastal plain. 



*Quercus aquatica, Walter. 



