Handbook of Trees of the Xortherx States axd Ca^^vda. 141 



This tree in tlio ricli bottom-lands of the 

 Wabasli River Imsin i> said to attain a lieiiiht 

 of nearly 200 ft., witli sturdy buttressed trunk 

 sometimes 7-8 ft. in diameter and 80-00 ft. 

 to its l)ranches — dimensions which would 

 make this one of tlie lari.'est of the American 

 Oaks — but sueli a size is very exceptional, as 

 it is usually a niucii smaller tree. It is com- 

 mon alonjj; the banks of streams and bottom- 

 lands of the ]\Iississi])pi basin in company with 

 the Cottonwood. River Birch, Sour Gum, Sweet 

 (Jum. llackberry. Coffee-tree, Red and Silver 

 Maples, etc. In the extreme western part of 

 its range it is sonu'times found fruiting as a 

 large shrub. 



Its wood is considered by lumbermen as of 



better grade tlian that of the Northern Red 



Oak. It is applied to the same uses as that 



timber and is generally not distinguished from 



it in commerce. - 



Lriivrs ovate to broad oval, -i^-S in. long, trun- 

 cate or broad wedge-shaped at base, deeply pin- 

 natifid witb broad rounded sinuses and 5-9 

 spreading lobes narrow below and spreading and 

 dentate at apex with bristle-pointed teeth, at ma- 

 turit.v thin, firm and shining dari? green aliove 

 paler and with tufts of whitish hairs in axils be- 

 neath. Flowers: staminate in slender pubescent 

 aments ; calyx 4-.5 with laciniately cut lobes; 

 pistillate with short tomeutose peduncles, stigmas 

 red. Fruit usually solij-ary, ses.^ile or with short 

 stalks, ovoid, puberuloiis light brown acorn, V2-IV2 

 in. long, sometimes striated, 2-.'> times as high as 

 the shallow or somewhat turbinate cup with thin 

 closely appressed light brown tomentose scales. 



1. Syn. Quercus Schvccliii Britt. 



2. A. W. XII, 294. 



