The Trees of Texas 69 



3. Quercus macrocarpa Micheaux. Burr Oak. Mossy Cup 

 Oak. A large stately forest tree which in its maximum size 

 may reach a height of 170 with trunk diameter of 6-7. It 

 is. liowevcr, more commonly medium size 40-60 high. The 

 branches are stout and spreading, forming a wide open crown. 

 Bark l'-2' thick, gray to brown, deeply fissured. Leaves obo- 

 vate or oblong, 4'-12' long, 5-9 lobed, variable, some of them 

 barely lobed, others cut almost to the midrib, dark green and 

 smooth above, whitish and hairy beneath. Acorn ovoid, %' 

 to I 1 /!' long, one-third to almost its entire length enclosed in 

 the cup-shaped cup. The upper edge of the cup is fringed 

 with a mossy border made up of the awned upper scales. 



Nova Scotia to Manitoba, Minnesota, "Wyoming, south to 

 Georgia, and west Texas. In Texas it extends to the Nueces 

 River. 



The wood is similar to that of Q. alba, both being called 

 white oak by lumbermen. The supply of these two valuable 

 timber trees is rapidly diminishing. There remains practically 

 no virgin forests. 



4. Quercus lyrata "Walter. Overcup Oak. A large forest 

 tree 100 in height and 2-3 in diameter. The trunk is either 

 tall, erect, or divided into several main branches which are 

 wide spreading, and form a beautiful rounded crown. The 

 bark is one inch or more in thickness, light gray, fissured, and 

 scaly. Leaves obovate-oblong, 5-9 lobed, frequently cut almost 

 to the midrib near the middle, wedge shaped at base, green 

 and smooth above, pale and hairy beneath. Acorns sessile 

 or short stalked, nut globose, depressed, %' long, almost com- 

 pletely enclosed in the rather thin reddish brown cup. 



Maryland south to Florida, west to Texas, and north 

 through Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. Confined principally 

 to moist soil. In Texas it extends to the Trinity Valley. Most 

 abundant in wet rich alluvial soils. 



The wood and uses are similar to Quercus alba. It has 

 IMMMI used extensively for railroad ties. 



5. Quercus prinoides Willdenow. Chinquapin Oak. A 

 shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 15-20. 

 The bark is light brown and somewhat scaly. Leaves obovate 

 or oblanceolate, pointed or acute at the apex, wedge-shaped 



