124 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Quercus velutina, Lam. (Q. tinctoria, Bartr.) Black Oak. 



(Fig. 29) 



A tree intermediate in some respects between Q. falcata and 

 the next, and not always easily distinguished at a glance. It is also 

 somewhat variable. In the North what passes for this species 

 usually has a pretty straight trunk and bark almost as smooth as 

 that of the water oaks, while in the South it is inclined to grow 

 crooked, and have rough bark. (Both forms seem to occur in the 

 neighborhood of Washington, D. C.) 



The wood is similar to that of the red oak. The bark ("quer- 

 citron bark" of the dispensatories) yields a yellow dye, and is also 

 used in tanning. It was formerly officinal, and decoctions of it 

 were used in the treatment of hemorrhage. 



Grows in dry woods, especially in ferruginous soils and in 

 mountainous regions, and does not seem to be particularly averse 

 to fire. 



lA. Colbert County. 



IB. Colbert, Morgan and Madison Counties. 



2A. Common; making about 3% of the forest. 



2B. Frequent. Walker, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa and Shelby Counties. 



3. Mostly on chert and sandstone ridges. DeKalb, Blount, Jefferson, 

 and probably all the other counties. 



4. Very common on dry slopes and ridges. ^ 



5. Frequent; about 1% of the forest. 



6A. Occasional from Franklin County to Tuscaloosa County. 



6B. Tuscaloosa and Autauga Counties. 



6C. Greene and Autauga Counties. 



7. Greene and Dallas Counties. 



9. Sumter County ; rather rare. 



lOE. Barbour, Pike and Coffee Counties. 



low. Wilcox, Butler and Monroe Counties. 



11. Monroe County. 



Quercus borealis maxima (Marsh.)* (Q. rubra of 19th cen- 

 tury writers) (Northern Red Oak. Leopard Oak.) 



A stately tree, with large thin leaves, large acorns, and smooth- 

 ish bark. The cups of the acorns are characteristic, being about an 

 inch in diameter and very shallow. The wood is similar to that of 

 the other red oaks. The bark is mentioned as a non-officinal drug 

 in "Wild medicinal plants of the United States" (U. S. Bur. Plant 



*This name was given almost simultaneously by Sargent (Rhodora 

 18:48) and Ashe (Proc. Soc. Am. Foresters 11:90) in March, 1916, and 

 it may never be possible to decide which author got into print with it first. 

 (See Torreya 17:135. 1917.) 



