238 WHITE OAK CLASS 



SWAMP WHITE OAK : Quercus platanoides 



THE common name of this tree indicates its habitat as 

 correctly as it does the class to which it belongs. In gen- 

 eral appearance, however, it quite resembles the Chestnut 

 Oak, and could appropriately be called Swamp Chestnut 

 Oak. Both its leaves and bark more closely resemble 

 Chestnut Oak than they do White Oak, yet its wood is 

 very similar in appearance and quality to that of the lat- 

 ter tree, and it is sold as such with little or no wrong to 

 the purchaser. Its natural range is from the New England 

 States westward to Iowa and Missouri, southward along 

 the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia, and in the 

 East from Maine to Virginia. It is nowhere very abundant, 

 though it can occasionally be found in small groves. Its 

 best development is in western New York, northwestern 

 Pennsylvania, and northern Ohio. It may be seen along 

 streams in low, rich ground, around and along the borders 

 of and even in swamps, mingled with other trees that flour- 

 ish in moist or wet ground. It is only moderately light- 

 demanding. 



The tree has been known to reach a height of one hun- 

 dred feet with a diameter of seven or eight feet ; but such 

 growth is extremely rare. It seldom exceeds seventy-five 

 feet in height or three feet in diameter. Standing where 

 it is constantly supplied with moisture, its growth, after 

 the first five or six years, is quite even and rapid. Notwith- 

 standing that it does not object to wet feet, but rather 

 prefers that condition, it will grow well in any moist, rich 

 soil. 



The wood is hard and heavy, tough, strong, close-grained, 

 and very durable when in contact with the ground. The 

 heartwood is light brown, with thin and barely distinguish- 

 able sapwood. Its medullary rays are as prominent and as 

 conspicuous as in White Oak, which makes it acceptable 

 for furniture and interior finish. It is used for all the pur- 



