FAGACEAE 



Bur Oak 



Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. 



HABIT. A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk 2-4 feet 

 in diameter; great, spreading branches form a broad, rugged 

 crown. 



LEAVES. Alternate, simple, 6-10 inches long and one-half 

 as broad ; obovate to oblong, wedge-shaped at the base ; crenately 

 lobed, usually cut nearly to the midrib by two opposite sinuses 

 near the middle ; thick and firm ; dark green and shining above, 

 pale pubescent beneath; petioles short, stout. 



FLOWERS. May, with the leaves; monoecious; the stam- 

 mate in slender, hairy catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate sessile 

 or short-stalked, reddish, tomentose ; calyx 4-6-lobed, yellow- 

 green, downy; corolla o; stamens 4-6, with yellow anthers; 

 stigmas bright red. 



FRUIT. Autumn of first season \ sessile or short-stalked 

 acorns; very variable in size and shape; cup typically deep, cup- 

 shaped, tomentose, fringed at the rim, inclosing one-third or all 

 of the nut; nut broad-ovoid, J^-iJ^ inches long, brownish, pube- 

 scent; kernel white, sweet and edible. 



WINTER-BUDS. Terminal bud J / 8 inch long, broadly 

 ovoid or conical, red-brown, pale-pubescent. 



BARK. Twigs yellow-brown, thick-tomentose, becoming 

 ash-gray or 'brownish; branches with corky ridges; thick and 

 gray-brown on the trunk, deeply furrowed. 



WOOD. Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very 

 durable, brownish, with thin, pale sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Common throughout both peninsulas. 



HABITAT. Prefers rich, moist soil; bottom-lands; but is 

 tolerant of many soils. 



NOTES. Rather slow of growth. Difficult to transplant. 

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