212 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Quercus alba L. White oak. 



Range : 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 



Site : Dry, well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Acorn ; annual, available September-October. 



A large tree, or rarely a low shrub with altitude ; root system deep, taproot 

 well developed ; slow growing, very long-lived ; not seriously injured by insects 

 or fungi ; not very fire resistant ; difficult to transplant even as seedling ; wood 

 durable, of great importance commercially ; bark a source of tannin ; fruit borne 

 when trees are 20 to 40 years old ; full crops borne at intervals of 8 to 10 years, 

 but some seed produced almost annually ; 100-150 seeds per pound, germination 

 75-95 percent ; coppice shorter lived and more tolerant of shade than seed-grown 

 stock. Several varieties have been described, all of which occur within the range 

 of the species. 



Stomach records: Ruffed grouse. Observations: Ring-necked pheasant, bob- 

 white, ruffed grouse, wild turkey ; an important food of white-tailed deer ; cotton- 

 tail rabbit ; forms a considerable proportion of the food of the red squirrel. 



Quercus alvordiana, see Quercus dumosa. 

 Quercus andromeda, see Quercus virginiana. 

 Quercus annulata, see Quercus breviloba. 

 Quercus aquatica, see Quercus nigra,. 



Quercus arizonica Sarg. Arizona white oak. 



Range: 10, 11. 

 Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Acorn ; annual, available September-November. 



A small to large shrub or small tree ; fruit ripens very irregularly ; a small 

 shrub at higher elevations. 



Observations: Thick-billed parrots; highly palatable to captive deer. 



Quercus arkansana Sarg. Arkansas oak. 



Range: 29. 



Site: Well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Acorn ; biennial. 



A large tree ; occurs in sandy and other soils ; has been considered a hybrid 

 between Q. nigra, and Q. marilandica. 



Quercus austrina, see Quercus durandii. 



Quercus bicolor Willd. Swamp white oak. 



Q. platanoides (La Marck) Sudw. 

 Range : 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 

 Site : Well-drained, moist, sun. 



Fruit : Acorn ; annual, available September-October. 



A large tree ; root system somewhat shallow ; free from insects and diseases, 

 fire-damaged especially when young; produces stump sprouts; wood durable, of 

 commercial value ; 90-125 seeds per pound, germination 80 percent. 



Quercus borealis Michx. f. Northern red oak. 



Q. rubra of auths., not L. 



Range : 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. 

 Site : Well-drained, sun, shade. 



Fruit : Acorn ; biennial, available October-November. 



A very large tree ; rapid growing when young, long-lived ; taproot deep ; pro- 

 duces a denser shade than most oaks ; severely injured by fire ; much attacked 

 by borers and subject to fungus attack, especially heart rot ; apparently not 

 drought resistant ; coppices freely when young; wood of great importance com- 

 mercially ; 80-100 seeds per pound, germination 80-05 percent. 



Var. borealis maxima (Marsh.) Ashe, (Q. maxima Ashe) is a large-fruited 

 form occurring within the range of the species. 



Stomach records: White-tailed deer. Observations: Ruffed grouse: tenth 

 most important food of white-tailed deer in Massachusetts ; forms a considerable 

 portion of the food of red squirrels ; cottontail rabbit ; heavily browsed by moose 

 on Isle Royal. Observations: Bobwhite; eaten by white-tailed deer in Missouri, 

 and northern white-tailed deer in Michigan. 



