269. QUERCUS DIGITATA SPANISH OAK. 43 



269. QUERCUS DIGITATA, SUDW. 



SPANISH OAK. FINGER OAK. 

 Ger., Finger-Eiche. Fr., Chene de doiget. Sp., Roble de dedo. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : Leaves variable, oblong to obovate, rounded or wedge-shaped 

 at base and often irregularly deeply pinnatifid with 3-7 oblique and often falcate or long 

 and narrow entire or dentate and bristle-tipped acuminate lobes or sometimes with merely 



3 short spreading lobes at apex, lustrous dark green above and gray or pubescent beneath. 

 Flowers staminate with thin scarious pubescent 4-5-lobed calyx; stigmas slender, dark 

 red. Fruit sessile or short-stalked acorn, about % in. long and not more than one-third 

 covered by the thin flat or turbinate shallow cup covered with thin obtuse closely appressed 

 scales. 



The Spanish Oak does not often attain a greater height than 70 or 80 ft. 

 (25 m.) or diameter of trunk than 3 or 4 ft. (1 m.), but in particularly 

 favorable localities has been known to attain 100 ft. (30 m.) in height and 



4 or 5 ft. (1.50 m.) in diameter of trunk. The bark of trunk is of a dark 

 or reddish brown color and is fissured into long scaly firm ridges. When 

 growing in the open the tree develops a top of stiff far-reaching branches 

 and stout branchlets. 



HABITAT. From southern New Jersey southward through the Atlantic 

 coast states to central Florida, and throughout the Gulf coast states to the 

 valley of the Brazos River in Texas, ranging northward in the Mississippi 

 valley to southern Indiana and Illinois. It grows on dry gravely uplands 

 and slopes, as well as rich bottom-lands that are not too wet. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, with 

 rather remote large medullary rays, not durable in contact with the soil and 

 of a reddish or yellowish brown color, with pale creamy white sap-wood. 

 Specific Gravity, 0.6928 ; Percentage of Asli, 0.25 ; Relative Approximate 

 Fuel Value, 0.6911; Coefficient of Elasticity, 140151; Modulus of Rupture, 

 1193; Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 596; Resistance to Indentation, 

 201 ; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 43.18. 



USES. Wood useful in the manufacture of agricultural implements, 

 furniture, interior finishing, etc., though inferior in value to the woods of 

 the white oak group. It is largely used for fuel, and its bark, which is rich 

 in tannin, is used in tanning leather. 



The tree has its place as an ornamental shade tree of recognized value, 

 the drooping nature and coloring of its curious foliage giving it a pleasing 

 fffeot and peculiar feature. 



