OAK G.N. 6708 



OAK (AMERICAN WHITE) 



Quercus alba Linn. Fagacese. 



A hard, heavy ring-porous wood much resembling English Oak, but 

 of a neutral-brown colour which is far less agreeable to the eye, especially 

 when polished. 



May be confused with: May be distinguished by: 



American Red Oak (reddish- Neutral brown colour: watery 



brown colour, watery extract clear extract very deep nut-brown : 



or greenish. Thyloses rare, if any). vessels almost always packed with 



thyloses. 



English Oaks (thyloses present All vessels packed with thyloses. 



but in small quantity: in any case Colour of wood, a disagreeable 



the vessels are not packed with neutral brown, 

 them. Colour warm, brown). 



OAK (AMERICAN RED) 



Quercus rubra Linn. Fagacese. 



A rather hard and heavy ring-porous wood resembling English Oak, 

 but with a distinctly pinkish tinge. 



Structure, that of the deciduous Oaks. The slight differences given 

 below may or may not be constant. 



Transverse section. Parenchyma (b). The concentric lines are very 

 clear and regular, and visible to the unaided eye. 

 Vessels contain few or no thyloses. 



Tangential section. Rays very much more evident than in the English 

 Oaks, and much less in height (up to about f inch as against one to 

 three inches). Their clearness and prominence suggest a resemblance to 

 those of the Beech. 



Reaction, watery extract nearly colourless or greenish. 



May be confused with other deciduous Oaks especially the English 

 Oaks and the American White Oak (Q. alba). From these it is easily 

 distinguished by the watery extract which in the case of the present 

 species is nearly colourless but in the others is deep nut brown. The 

 extract of the American Red is, or becomes, slightly green after 24 hours, 

 while that of the others remains as before. 



It is commonly stated that the Red Oak has no thyloses and may be 

 identified by this means. It is true that thyloses are very much less 

 abundant and indeed rare, in this species, but they can generally be 

 found (at least in our specimens). 



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