126 



leaves ovate to obovate in outline, divided into 5-7 lobes, by deep 

 rounded and wide sinuses, the sinuses cutting the blade to more than 

 half way to the midrib, except the leaves of lower branches that grow in 

 the shade, the lobes variable in shape and size, usually the lowest 

 are the shortest and smaller, the middle the longest and largest, the 

 lobes are sometimes widest at the base, and sometimes widest at the 

 apex, the end of the lobes are more or less toothed or lobed; the leaves 

 at maturity are bright green, glossy and smooth above, a paler and 

 yellow green and smooth beneath except tufts of hairs in the axils of 

 the principal veins; acorns solitary or in pairs, usually on stalks about 

 0.5 cm. long; nuts ovoid, sometimes broadly so, or oblong, broad and 

 flat or slightly convex at base, usually 1.5-2 cm. long, enclosed in the 

 cup from 34-M their length; cups flat or convex at the base: scales 

 generally pubescent on the back, gray or with a reddish tip on those of 

 the Lower Wabash Valley, or reddish gray and with margins more or less 

 red of trees of the Upper Wabash Valley. 



Distribution. In Indiana this species has been reported only from 

 Wells, Bartholomew, Vermillion, Knox, Gibson and Posey Counties. 

 This species was not separated from our common red oak until after all 

 of the local floras of Indiana had been written, and it may have a much 

 wider range than is at present known. In Wells County it is the pre- 

 vailing "red oak" of the count} 1 -, and no doubt is distributed through- 

 out the Wabash Valley. In this area it is associated with all moist 

 ground species. In the lower Wabash Valley, especially in Gibson, 

 Knox and Posey Counties it is associated with Spanish, pin, and shingle 

 oaks, sweet gum, etc. Several trees were noted in Knox County in 

 Little Cypress swamp where it was associated with cypress, pin oak, 

 white elm, red maple and swell-butt ash. 



Remarks. This anomalous red oak has a range from Indiana to 

 Texas. When the attention of authors was directed to it, several new 

 species were the result. Later authors are not agreed as to whether 

 this form, which has such a wide range and hence liable to show con- 

 siderable variation within such a long range, is one or several species. 

 C. S. Sargent who for years has studied this form throughout its range 

 has seen the author's specimens and calls those with shallow cups 

 typical or nearly typical Quercus Shumardii Buckley 1 and those with the 

 deep cups Quercus Shumardii variety Schneckii (Britton) Sargent. 



The writer has made rather an intensive study of the forms in Wells 

 County and in the Lower Wabash Valley and has not been able to satis- 

 fy himself that, allowing for a reasonable variation, there is even a 

 varietal difference in Indiana forms. The description has been drawn 

 to cover all of the forms of Indiana. 



iSargent: Notes on North American Trees. Bot. Gaz. Vol. 65: 424:1918. 



