Lake Maxinkiwkee, Physical and Biological Survey 287 



north of the lake region is a large flat area of ground noted for its 

 fertility known as Bur-oak flats, the railway station of Burr Oak 

 commemorating the former abundance of this species in that region. 



The trees were just leafing out and in flower northeast of the 

 lake May 28, 1901, and the acorns were ripe on the tree in the 

 Academy grounds August 29, 1906. A good many leaves had been 

 shed by October 3. 



The bur oak is the largest and most valuable of our oaks, and 

 is usually found growing in rich, moist loamy ground. It bears 

 much the same relation to the white oak that the big king nut does 

 to the shag-bark hickory. The acorns vary greatly in size and de- 

 velopment of fringe on the cup. They average the largest in size 

 of our acorns and are free from all traces of bitterness, but not so 

 sweet as those of the white oak, having a raw-starch taste. Trees 

 sometimes come into bearing when small, and bear large crops. 

 The acorns of the tree on the Military Academy grounds are small, 

 and have not much of a fringe to the cup. 



265. SWAMP WHITE OAK 



QUERCUS BICOLOR Willd. 



In moist ground at the borders of ponds on both sides of the 

 lake. Scattered through Farrar's woods and at the ice-beach pond 

 on the east side; common around ponds in Busart's and Zechiel's 

 woods. This is said to get very large, larger than the white oak, 

 but most of the trees we have seen are small. A handsome tree 

 with leaves whitish underneath and acorns on long stout stems, fre- 

 quently two or three acorns to the peduncle. 



266. CHESTNUT OR YELLOW OAK; CHINQUAPIN OAK 



QUERCUS MUHLENBERGII Engelm. 



Only one small tree was found on the west side of the lake near 

 the Meyer cottage. Rather common on the east side back in the 

 forests. Some of the trees on the east side are very neat and hand- 

 some. As Mr. Blatchley has pointed out, this species varies greatly 

 in shape of leaf, some leaves being broad and others very long and 

 narrow. All the trees about the lake belong to the broad-leaved 

 form. The acorns are sweet and small, and begin to germinate as 

 soon as they drop. They are edible to some extent when they first 

 drop, but become quite hard on drying. 



