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SWAMP WHITE OAK. 

 Quercus tricolor, Willdenow. 



FORM An average-sized tree usually attaining a height of 60-70 ft., occasionally attaining 

 a height of 100 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. In the open it develops a broad, open, round- 

 topped crown with the upper branches ascending, the lower often drooping. Scraggy and peeling 

 branches make it rather unattractive. In dense stands the trunk is clean and continuous. 



BARK On young branches reddish-brown, smooth, soon becoming rough and unkempt by peel- 

 ing into long, persistent, dark scales and exposing light inner bark. On old trunks thick, grayish- 

 brown, deeply fissured into long, often continuous, flat ridges which break up into small gray 

 scales. See Fig. 77. 



TWIGS Stout, yellowish to reddish-brown, usually smooth, covered with pale raised lenticels; 

 pith star-shaped. 



BUDS Alternate, broadly ovate, obtuse, J-i of an inch long, covered with light chestnut- 

 brown scales, often slightly hairy towards the apex. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, usually obovate in outline, 5-6 inches long, 2-4 inches wide, 

 rounded at narrowed apex, coarsely dentate on margin, with shallow rounded lobes; upper 

 surface shining dark yellowish-green; lower surface light green and finely hairy. 



LEAF-SCARS See "Leaf-Scars" under White Oak, page 132. 



FLOWERS Appear about May when leaves are about J developed. Staminate flowers occur 

 in hairy aments 4-5 inches long. Pistillate are borne on short-stalks, either solitary or few in a 

 cluster. 



FRUIT An acorn, maturing during one season, solitary or few in a cluster, usually borne on a 

 long stalk. Nut oblong, J-1J inches long, chestnut-brown, usually hairy at apex. Cup deeply 

 saucer-shaped, thick, enclosing 4 of nut, hairy inside, covered with pale woolly scales which 

 are rather thickened near base, and thin, narrow, often fringed at margin. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; with rather conspicuous medullary rays. It possesses the same physical 

 characteristics as the White Oak, and is sold on the market as White Oak. Weighs 47.75 Ibs. 

 per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Swamp White Oak can be distinguished from all 

 other Oaks at any season of the year by the bark on the younger branches which peels off into 

 thin large plates as in the Buttonwood tree. In summer this species can be recognized by the 

 leaves which have shallow sinuses between the lobes, giving the leaf a broad effect. In fall the 

 long-stalked acorns with their cups enclosing about i of nut are characteristic. In winter the 

 rather stout, yellowish to reddish-brown twigs bearing buds with light chestnut-brown scales and 

 the irregular, often drooping, growth of the lower lateral branches is peculiar to this species. 



RANGE Maine and Quebec to Michigan, south to Georgia and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Reported from eight counties in the eastern and south- 

 ern parts of the State, one in the western part, and common in the northwestern. 



HABITAT Frequents rich soils on borders of swamps and streams. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES The Swamp White Oak is an important tree but its propaga- 

 tion should not be recommended or attempted where the White Oak will grow. Its lateral 

 branches have a tendency to persist which results in an inferior grade of lumber. It has no 

 ornamental qualities which especially recommend it for such planting. 



