Handbook of Tkees of the Xorthekx States axd C'axapa. 163 



The Shingle Oak in tlie forest under most 

 favorable eontlitioiis of growth sOnietinics at- 

 tains a hei<;ht iif 100 ft., with straight columnar 

 trunk ;5 or 4 ft. in iliameter. livit is u>ually 

 nut more than 50 or f.O ft. in height. When 

 isolated it develops an ublong or rounded top 

 of numerous branches, and is ccmspicuous on 

 account of its laige entire leaves, which are 

 very difl'erent from these of all other American 

 Oaks. It is a distineth- handsome Oak inhabit- 

 ing both rich uplands and fertile bottom-lands, 

 and is one of the most abundant Oaks of the 

 lower Ohio basin and the state of .Missouri. 



Its wood is heavy, a cu. ft. when absolutely 

 dry weighing 40.92 lbs., hard and strong, and 

 is used in interior finishing, furniture and to 

 a considerable extent for clajiboards and 

 shingles — a use from which it takes its name.i 



Lea res oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 4-G in. long, 

 sometimes bristle-tipped, particularly when .vouny, 

 aciTte or obtuse at apex and wedge-shaped or 

 rounded at base, with entire or slightly undulate 

 margins, coriaceous, reddish or yellowish green 

 ami tonientose at first, at maturity very lustrous 

 dark green above, paler and pubescent beneath 

 with yellowish midribs and prominent veins ; 

 petioles short, pubescent. Floicrrs staminate 

 aments slender and numerous, hoary-tomentose, 

 2-.S in. long with yellowish pubescent 4-lobed 

 calyx ; pistil with short tomentose peduncles ; 

 stigmas recurved. Fridt solitary or 2 or .3 to- 

 gether with short peduncles and subglobose dark 

 brown or striated nut about Vj in. long and one- 

 third inclosed in a flattish turbinate cup of small 

 closely imbricated pubescent scales. 



1. A. W., XI, 270. 



