OAKS. 223 



though not universally considered much inferior to the White 

 Oak for this purpose. 



Quercus coccinea. Scarlet Oak. Black Oak. 



Leaves oblong or obovate, deeply pinnatifid with broad 

 rounded sinuses and slender lobes divergent and divided at 

 the apex into several teeth which are bristle-pointed. When 

 the leaves unfold they are bright red and covered with 

 pubescence, but towards maturity they become shining green 

 and generally glabrous above, the lower side in this section 

 often furnished with tufts of hair in the axils of the veins. 

 The leaves turn a brilliant red or scarlet in autumn, remain 

 on the trees in this section all winter and fall in the spring. 

 The buds are often slightly pubescent and are smaller and 

 very different from the large tomentose buds of Quercus velu- 

 tina. The fruit which ripens in the autumn of the second year 

 is sessile or on a stalk which is sometimes an inch long; it is 

 oval or globular ovoid with a bitter kernel. A common and 

 often large tree in this section, where it is generally termed 

 Black Oak and is found on .gravelly ridges and sandy land 

 interspersed with Bur and Red Oak. 



Distribution. From Maine to the District of Columbia 

 and west to Minnesota and Nebraska. 



Propagation. By fall-sown seeds. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, hard, strong, coarse grained, 

 light or reddish brown with thick darker colored sapwood. 

 Specific gravity 0.7095; weight of a cubic foot 42.20 pounds. 



Uses. The Scarlet Oak is not planted to so great an 

 extent as the Red Oak for ornamental purposes but is fully as 

 desirable because of. its beautiful scarlet autumn coloring 

 and rapid growth. The wood is largely used in the manufac- 

 ture of furniture, for interior finishing and for fuel and is not 

 distinguished commercially from that of Red Oak. 



