132 



TREES GROWING IN MOIST SOIL. 



shade. In Japan, \vhei>ce it has been introduced into this 

 country, and also in China, the very fibrous bark is utilized 

 to make paper and this circumstance is responsible for its 

 English name. The leaves of the tree might readily be confused 

 with those of the red mulberry, but its club-shaped fruit is 

 quite different and is far from being edible. The tree spreads 

 itself by suckers. 



BURR OAK. MOSSY-CUP OAK. OVER-CUP WHITE OAK. 



{Plate LXIII.) 

 Qui^rcus macrocdrpa. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT 



Betch. Round-topped^ broad; 60-80-160 

 branches y spreading. feet. 



RANGC: TIME OF BLOOM 



Maine to f'enn. and May, June, 



tvcstward to .Montana, 

 soutliward to Texas, 



^(?r/t .• brownish grey ; furrowed. Braiichlets : marked with corky-winged 

 ridges. Leaves: six to fifteen inches long; simple; alternate; with thick pet- 

 ioles, fl.ittened ami enlarged at their bases; oijovate; lyrately pinnatifid, with 

 wedge-shaped base and from five to seven long, irregular lobes; rounded or 

 hollowed at their ape.xes ; entire or wavy. The sinuse of the middle lobe 

 sometimes extending to within an eighth of an inch of the midrib. Dark green, 

 smooth and lustrous above; silvery wiiite and ilowny underneath. Staminate 

 flowers : growing in slender catkins with greenish-vellow stems. Pistillate eat- 

 /{'/«j; sessile. Aeorns : very large; handsome, C/t/>: cup-shaped; covered with 

 rough, pointed scales, tlie upper row of whicii terminate in long bristle points 

 and form a mossy soft fringe about the nut; jiuljesccnt on the inner surface. 

 A^ut : out to one and a half inches long; oval and almost covered by the cup. 



About this noble tree there is the same semblance of strength 

 and durability as is so generally associated with the oaks. It is 

 one of the largest of the family of Eastern North America and 

 is more widely distributed than any other, although compara- 

 tively rare east of the Alleghanics. To various climatic condi- 

 tions it shows much adaptability. On the prairies the " Oak 

 Openings " are mostly composed of the burr oak ; and one that 

 has entered them has said, " he knew not whether he shuddered 

 from fear or delight." In the Mississippi basin it is commonly 

 seen in lowland forests. As it occurs northward it is interesting 

 to notice that the acorns become very much smaller, and as the 

 length of their fringe is proportionately reduced, they cease to 



