138 



ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Fig. 35. Several specimens of Oucrciis oblnsa in low ijaslure near Fort 

 Deposit, Lowndes County. April 20, 1928. Many other oaks have about 

 the same shape when not crowded by other trees, and this could hardly be 

 distinguished from O. PhcUos at a little distance. 



Quercus obtusa (Willd.) Ashe.* {Q. rhombica, Sarg.f) 



(Watkr Oak.) 

 (Fig. 35) 



All imperfectly understood species, apparently intermediate 

 between the preceding and the following ; and it might be regarded 

 as a hybrid between them if it was not a little too abundant and 

 wide-spread for that. And its habitat is tistially quite different 

 from that of Q. laitrifolia. It is commonly planted for shade, 

 especially in and around Tuscaloosa and Montgomery. 



On account of the difficulty of distinguishing this from its 

 relatives, and the fact that it was not recognized as a distinct 

 species until 1!)18, it does not figure very largely in my field notes. 

 It seems to be confined to the coastal ]:)lain, and to prefer rich low- 

 lands, either alluvial or calcareous. It will proltably be found in 

 many other places l)esides the following : 



7. Greene, Sumter, Dallas and Bullock Counties. 



8. In a low pasture near Fort Deposit, Lowndes County, and probably 

 native not far away. 



low. Wilcox and Butler Counties. 



1 1 . Choctaw County. 



12. Houston County. 



13 (?). Monroe County, and in a creek swamp between Mcintosh 

 and Calvert, Washington County. 



*Torreya 18:72-73. 1918. 

 fBot. Gaz. 65:430-431. 1018. 



