116 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Oucrciis austriiia. Small, is a doubtful species, based on several dif- 

 ferent specimens, including some collected by Dr. Mohr in southern Hale 

 Count}', and apparently some referable to Q. Duraudii. (See bargent, Bot. 

 Gaz. 65:435-436. 1918.) It has been reported from Dallas County by 

 Cocks, and should be investigated further in the black belt. 



CHESTNUT OAKS 



Quercus montana, Willd. (Q. Prinits monticola, Mx. ; Q. Prinus 

 of most American authors.*) Chestnut Oak. Mountain 

 Oak. 



(Map 13) 



A very distinct tree of medium size, with hard deeply fur- 

 rowed but not rough bark, and large smooth acorns in thin cups. 

 Like most of the other oaks, this is sometimes planted for a shade 

 tree ; and some of the ctiltivated specimens are larger than any in 

 the forests. Its wood is often used for cross-ties and charcoal. 

 The most valuable part of the tree, though, is the bark, which is 

 used for tanning in preference to that of all other American oaks. 

 In the tan-bark operations the rest of the tree is usually allowed 

 to go to waste. The acorns are good forage for hogs. 



References : Foster & Ashe. 



Grows mostly on non-calcareous bluffs, cliffs, and rocky and 

 gravelly slopes, especially in the moimtains. (It was formerly 

 supposed to be confined to the hill country, but several coastal 

 plain stations are now known, in Virginia, Alabama and Missis- 

 sippi.) It is often associated with the chestnut, which it somewhat 

 resembles, and like the chestnut, it is probably more tolerant of 

 fire than of earthworms. 



lA. Rocky hills and bluffs near Tennessee River, Lauderdale and 

 Colbert Counties. 



IB. Occasional on limestone slopes, Morgan County. 



IC. Common on a shelf of Hartselle sandstone with limestone above 

 and below it, on Smithers Mountain, Madison County. (At that locality 

 the trees have not been seen in leaf, but the bark looks a little different 

 from the typical form. — See Monograph 8, Fig. 3. — It should be investigated 

 in summer or fall.) Occasional on Little Mountain in Morgan, Lawrence 

 and Colbert Counties. 



2A-2B. Common throughout, on rocky slopes. 



3. Frequent on chert and sandstone ridges. 



4. Abundant on ridges and rocky slopes. 



5. Frequent on rocky slopes, especially near the mountains. South to 

 near Wetumpka and Tallassee. 



6A. Gravelly ravines and bluffs; Franklin, Marion, Tuscaloosa, Hale 

 and Chilton Counties. (Two feet in diameter and 75 feet tall near Havana.) 



~ *See Sargent, Rhodora 17:40. 1915. 



