TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA 41 



48. Quercus Prinus L.* Rock Chestnut Oak. 



'Much like the 'Swamp Chestnut Oak, but differs 

 from it in that it is found only on rocky uplands, 

 and in that the leaves are smoother and the scales of 

 the cup are more or less fused together. It is a 

 much smaller tree than the Swamp Chestnut Oak, 

 and occurs from the high mountains east to Orange, 

 growing scarcer as it descends in the Piedmont. At 

 Chapel Hill it is rare except on the north slope of 

 bluffs. The bark is of value in tanning and the trees 

 are being felled in great numbers to secure it. Date 

 of flowering: April 10, 1903. Examples: tree by 

 tennis court, grove in front of Dr. Battle's, and trees 

 on Laurel Hill. 



49. Quercus bicolor Willd. Swamp White Oak. 



A large tree of swamps and low grounds in the 

 upper Piedmont and lower mountains; not frequent. 

 The leaves are intermediate in appearance between 

 the White Oak and the Swamp Chestnut Oak, with 

 round shallow lobes, the under surface whitish to- 

 mentose. Acorns much like those of the White Oak, 

 but borne on a long stalk, often more than an inch 



* The closely related Chinquapin Oak (Q. prinoides Willd.) is 

 only a shrub in this state and is rare, occurring in dry soil 

 in the Piedmont and, according to Curtis, also sparingly in the 

 lower district. We have it from Gaston County, near Cherryville. 

 It is much like the Rock Chestnut Oak, but is smaller in every part, 

 the leaf blades averaging only about 2-2^ inches long, and the 

 acorns about % inch long. 



In sandy flats around Wilmington and from there southward is 

 found a curious and interesting little shrub called White Oak Run- 

 ners, or Dwarf Oak (Quercua pumila Walt.), which is the smallest 

 species of oak known. It spreads by underground runners and 

 sends up short stems which are from one to two feet high, and 

 which bear acorns abundantly. The leaves and acorns are much 

 like those of the Live Oak. 



