PIGNUT WHITE OAK. 89 



of Nebraska, and Indian Territory, and south to western Florida 

 and southern Texas ; reaching its best development in the lower 

 Ohio basin. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 70 to 80 

 feet, it is found throughout. It is not a common tree in the mount- 

 ains, and is rare in the coastal plain region ; but along with the 

 white hickory it is fairly abundant in the Piedmont plateau 

 region. (Fig. 17, p 88.) 



The pignut bears fruit frequently and in large quantities, and 

 young growth is common near the parent trees and through sec- 

 ond-growth woods. 



The leaves are long, with 5 to 7 smooth leaflets. The smooth, 

 tapering twigs are smaller than in the two preceding species. The 

 fruit is pear-shaped or rounded, with very thin husks splitting 

 about halfway to the base. The rather thin-shelled nut, about i 

 inch in diameter, contains a small sweetish or slightly bitter ker- 

 nel. The polished brown winter-buds are egg-shaped and pointed 

 or rounded It lias numerous lateral roots and a taproot which 

 is developed early in the life of the tree. 



The wood is heavy, hard, very strong, and tough, flexible and 

 close-grained, and checks in drying ; dark or light brown in color ; 

 the thick sapwood lighter, often nearly white. Its uses are the 

 same as those of the shag-bark hickory, to the wood of which 

 species for some purposes it i> preferred. 



Quercus alba, Linnaeus. 

 (white oak.) 



A large tree, of great economic value, with large spreading 

 branches and a bark which is either light gray, slightly rough- 

 ened, and in the older trees, loosens in large thin scales, or is gray, 

 firm, and deeply furrowed. It reaches a height of 150 and a diam- 

 eter of 8 feet. (Plate VII.) 



It occurs on all soils from noithern Maine to the valley of the 

 St. Lawrence, westward through lower Michigan to southeastern 

 Minnesota, and southward to St. John's river and Tampa bay, 

 Florida, and the valley of the Brazos river, Texas ; reaching its 



