ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 



85 



shade and ornamental purposes, grows to a height of 70-80 feet. 

 However, it is subject to chlorosis as described above. It is a 

 moderately large tree which grows more rapidly and is more 

 easily transplanted than other species of oak. It produces nu- 

 merous, slender branches that are usually pendulous at the ends. 

 The alternate leaves (Fig. 78 inset) are dark green, with five to 

 seven deep lobes, and measure 4-6 inches long and 2-4 inches 

 wide. They are shiny above and paler, with tufts of pale hairs in 

 the axils of the large veins, below. The male and female flowers 

 are produced separately on the same tree. The male flowers are 

 produced as 2- to 3-inch-long catkins and the female flowers are 

 short, reddish, hairy spikes, often in pairs. The small, y-)-mch- 

 long, globe-shaped, bitter-kernelled acorn is enclosed one-third 

 of the way with a thin saucer-shaped cup. The trunk, usually 

 not over 2-3 feet in diameter, is generally covered with smooth, 

 gray to dark brown bark. 



Other oaks used rather extensively in shade and ornamental 

 plantings are red oak (Q. borealis), white oak (Q. alba), and bur 

 oak (Q. macrocarpa). Red oak (Fig. 79) is a large tree with a 

 narrow crown of stout branches. It grows to a height of 80-90 



-^'•ji* .-,■ 



Fig. 79.— Red oak, a 

 sturdy tree, is similar 

 to pin oak in rate of 

 growth. The leaves 

 have 7-11 lobes and 

 each lobe is bristle 

 tipped. 



