84 CUPULIFER^E. Quercus. 



259. Quercus Michauxii, Nutt. 

 Basket Oak. Cow Oak. 



Delaware, south through the lower and middle districts to northern 

 Florida, through the Gulf States to the valley of the Trinity River, Texas, 

 and through Arkansas and southeastern Missouri to central Tennessee 

 and Kentucky, and southern Illinois and Indiana. 



A tree 24 to 36 metres in height, with a trunk 1.20 to 2.10 metres in 

 diameter ; borders of streams and deep, often submerged swamps ; the 

 common and most valuable white oak of the Gulf States, reaching its 

 greatest development on the rich bottom-lands of southeastern Arkansas 

 and Louisiana. 



Wood heavy, hard, very strong, tough, close-grained, compact, very 

 durable in contact with the soil, easily split; layers of annual growth 

 marked by few rather large open ducts ; medullary rays broad, conspicu- 

 ous ; color light brown, the sap-wood darker ; largely used in the manu- 

 facture of agricultural implements, wheel-stock, baskets, for which it is 

 unsurpassed, for cooperage, fencing, construction, and fuel. 



The large sweet edible acorns are eagerly devoured by cattle and other 

 animals. 



260. Quercus Prinus, L. 



Chestnut Oak. Rock Chestnut Oak. 



Eastern Massachusetts, west to the shores of Lake Champlain, shores 

 of Quinte Bay, Ontario, and the valley of the Genesee River, New York, 

 south to Delaware, and through the Alleghany Mountain region to north- 

 ern Alabama, extending west to central Kentucky and Tennessee. 



A tree 24 to 30 metres in height, with a trunk 0.90 to 1.20 metres in 

 diameter; rocky banks and hillsides ; very common and reaching its great- 

 est development in the southern Alleghany region, here often forming a 

 large proportion of the forest growth. 



Wood heavy, hard, strong, rather tough, close-grained, inclined to check 

 in drying, durable in contact with the soil, containing few open ducts ; 

 medullary rays very broad, conspicuous ; color dark brown, the sap-wood 

 lighter ; largely used in fencing, for railway-ties, etc. 



The bark, rich in tannin, is largely used in preference to that of the 

 Other white oaks in tanning leather. 



261. Quercus prinoides, Willd. 



Yellow Oak. Chestnut Oak. Chinquapin Oak. 



Eastern Massachusetts, shores of Lake Champlain, west along the 

 northern shores of Lakes Ontario and Eric, through southern Michigan 

 to eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and the Indian Territory ; south to 

 Delaware and through the Alleghany region to northern Alabama and 

 Mississippi, extending southwest to the Guadalupe Mountains, Texas. 



