PIGNUT \VHITE OAK. 89 



of Nebraska, and Indian Territory, and sonrli to western Florida 

 and southern Texas ; reaeliino- its l)est development in the lower 

 Ohio l)asin. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 70 to 80 

 feet, it is found tiiroughout. It is not a common tree in the mount- 

 ains, and is rare in the coastal plain region ; hut along with the 

 white hickory it is fairly aV)undant in the Piedmont plateau 

 region. (Fig. IT, p 88.) 



The pignut bears fruit fre(|uently and in large quantities, and 

 young growth is common near the parent trees and through sec- 

 •ond-groM'th woods. 



The leaves are long, with 5 to 7 smooth leatiets. The smooth, 

 tapering twigs are smaller than in the two preceding species. The 

 fruit is pear-shaped or rounded, with very thin husks splitting 

 al)out halfway to the base. The rather thin-shelled nut, about i 

 inch ill diameter, contains a small sweetish or slightly bitter ker- 

 nel. The polished brown winter-buds are egg-shaped and pointed 

 or rounded It has numerous lateral roots and a taproot which 

 is developed early in the litV' of the tree. 



The wood is heavy, hard, very strong, and tough, flexible and 

 close-grained, and checks in drying; dark or liglit brown in color; 

 the tlii(dc sapwood lighter, often nearly white. Its uses are the 

 same as those of the shag-bark hickoi-y, to the wt)od of which 

 species for some ])urposes it i^ preferred. 



Quercus alba, Linnaeus. 

 (white oak.) 



A large tree, of great economic' value, with lai-ge spreading 

 branches and a bark which is either light gray, slightly rough- 

 ened, and in the older trees, loosens in large thin scales, or is gray, 

 firm, and deeply furrowed. It reaches a height of 150 and a diam- 

 eter of 8 feet. (Plate YII.) 



It occurs on all soils from noithern Maine to the valley of the 

 St. Lawrence, westward through lower Michigan to southeastern 

 Minnesota, and southward ti.> St. John's river and Tampa bay, 

 Florida, and the vallev of the P)razos river, Texas ; reachino; its 



