BEECH FAMILY 61 



5. Q. Muhlenbergii Engelm, Yellow Chestnut Oak. A tree of 

 medium or large size with gray bark. Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, 

 usually acute at the apex and obtuse or rounded at the base, coarsely 

 and evenly toothed; veins straight, impressed above and prominent 

 beneath ; petioles slender. Cup hemispherical, sessile or short-pedun- 

 cled, with flat scales, h in. broad, inclosing about half the ovoid 

 acorn, which is |-| in. long. Common on dry soil. Wood close-grained, 

 durable, and valuable. 



6. Q. Prinus L. Swamp Chestnut Oak. A large tree with brown, 

 ridged bark. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, rather obtuse, cre- 

 nately toothed, minutely downy beneath; petioles slender, about 1 in. 

 long. Cup hemispherical, peduncles longer than the petioles, scales 

 acute, tubercular, appressed ; acorn oblong, acute, 1 in. or less in 

 length, edible. Common on low ground. Wood strong and valuable.* 



7. Q. virginiana Mill. Live Oak. A large tree with rough gray 

 or brown bark and a low, spreading top. Leaves leathery, evergreen, 

 oblong or oblanceolate, often somewhat 3-lobed on young trees, 

 margin rolled under, dark green and shining above, pale below; 

 petioles short, stout. Fruit often in short racemes, cup top-shaped, 

 scales closely appressed, hoary, peduncles |-1 in. long ; acorn from 

 subglobose to oblong, the longer form occurring on the younger 

 trees. On low ground near the coast. Wood very hard and durable ; 

 valued for shipbuilding.* 



B. Fruit biennial; leaves entire or with bristle-pointed 

 lobes. 



8. Q. nil^ra L. Red Oak. A large tree. Leaves oval or obovate, 

 green above, pale and slightly downy beneath; sinuses shallow and 

 rounded, lobes 8-12, taper-pointed; petioles long. Cups saucer-shaped, 

 with fine scales ; acorn ovate or oblong, about 1 in. long. Connnon ; 

 wood not valuable ; leaves turning red after frost and often remain- 

 ing on the tree through the winter. 



9. Q. velutina Lam. Black Oak. A large tree with rough, dark 

 brown outer bark and thick, bright yellow inner bark. Leaves broadly 

 oval, usually cut more than halfway to the midrib, sinuses rounded; 

 lobes about 7, sharply toothed at the apex, smooth above, usually 

 downy on the veins beneath ; cup hemisj^herical or top-shaped, with 

 coarse scales, short-peduncled, inclosing about half the roundish 

 acorn. Common ; wood not valuable, but the inner bark used for 

 tanning and dyeing.* 



10. Q. falcata Michx. Spanish Oak. A small or medium-sized 

 tree with leaves 3-5-lobed at the apex, obtuse or rounded at the base, 

 grayish-downy beneath, lobes lanceolate and often scythe-shaped, 



