Handbook of Trees of the Xortherx States and Canada. 



175 



This large ami important Oak is one of the 

 most valuable timl)er trees of the southern 

 states, and in forests sometimes attains the 

 height of lUO ft., witli columnar trunk 3 or 4 

 ft. in diameter vested in a pale gray scaly 

 ridged bark. It is one of our handsomest Oaks 

 with its ample leaves showing alternately 

 their glossy dark green upper surfaces and 

 velvety white lower surfaces, as agitated by 

 the wind. It is confined in its distribution 

 mainly to low swampy grounds, rich bottom- 

 lands and the borders of streams subject to 

 frequent inundation, where it is found in com- 

 pany with the Water nickor}\ Swamp Bay, 

 Planer Tree, \Yater and Laurel Oaks, the 

 Gums, Red ^laple. etc. 



Its wood, of which a cubic foot when absolutely 

 dry weighs 50. 10 lbs., is liard, tough, strong and 

 very durable in contact with the soil and is 

 highly valued for furniture and interior finish- 

 ing, cooperage, the manufacture of agricultural 

 implements, fence posts, fuel, etc., and is con- 

 sidered the best of our woods for the manu- 

 facture of baskets.! 



Lcnrrs obovate. usually 4R in. long, broad, ob- 

 tuse or roundi'd at basf. ai'Uto or acuminate, reiju- 

 larly crfnatc-tootbcd. witb S-12 pairs of primary 

 veins torminatins: in the teeth, rather thicli, lust- 

 rous dark si'ccn above, whitish and velvety pubes- 

 cent beneath. Floinrft: staminate aments slender, 

 3-4 in. Ions: ; pistillate with short tomentose pe- 

 duncles and short red stigmas. Fruit solitary 

 or in pairs, ses.sile or nearly so; nut 1-1% in. in 

 length, ovoid-oblong and about 14 enveloped in the 

 hoary-tomentose closely imbricated pointed scales, 

 those near the base thick tuberculate. 



1. A. W., V, 



IG. 



