BLACK OAK. 



101 



The wood is heavy, hard, strong, and close-grained ; the lieart- 

 wood light brown or red ; tlie sapwood rather darker. The lum- 

 ber, if used at all, is confounded with that of the red oak. The 

 bark is sometimes used in tanning, but is inferior to that of the 

 black oak. It is rare!}' used in this State except for coarse 

 staves and shakes, and for fuel. 



Quercus velutina, Lamarck." 



(BLACK OAK.) 



A large tree, with rough or deeply furrowed nearly black bark, 

 grayish branches, a long clear trunk, and an oval crown, reaching 

 a height of 160 and a diameter of feet. 



]t is very common on dry or gravelly uplands from Maine to 

 MiiHiesota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and Indian Territorj', and 

 south to western Florida, and easterti Texas. It reaches its best 

 development in the valley of the lower Ohio river. 



In Xortli Carolina (fig. 25), wliere it attaiiis an average height 

 of so to 90 and an average diameter of •! to .") feet, it is most abun- 

 dant in the upper i)art, and occurs very sparingly, if at all, in 

 the lower. 



MAP OF 

 NORTH CAROLINA 



COAbTAL PLAIN REGION 



LEGEND 

 Area in which the BLACK OAK is one of the 

 dominant trees (Quercus velutina, Lam.') 



Area in which the BLACK OAK is a sub- 

 ordinate tree. 



Distribution of the LAUREL OAK 

 (Quercus laurifolia, Mic/ix.') 



n 



It bears fruit abundantly at intervals of 2 or 8 years, and seed- 

 Jings are common under the light shade of the parent tree. 

 Black oak forms a large part of the second growth mixed hard- 

 *Quei-cus tiiictorla, Bartrani. 



