90 



TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



best development on the slopes of the Alleghany mountains, and 

 in the valley of the Ohio river and its tributaries. It is a com- 

 mon tree in a considerable portion of the central and eastern 

 states. 



LEGEND 



j Area in which the WHITE OAK is one of 

 ] the dominant trees 



(Quercus alba, Z.) 



Area in which the WHITE OAK occurs but 

 rarely. 



In North Carolina, where it attains an average. height of 70 to 

 80 and an average diameter of 4 to 5 feet, it occurs throughout, 

 and is common everywhere except in the northeastern part of the 

 State and on the sandy soils of the southeastern section. It is 

 most plentiful on the Piedmont plateau. (Fig. IS.) 



Large quantities of seed are produced about once in three 

 years. The acorns germinate in all kinds of soil and frequently 

 seed up old fields. Young seedlings are common in all situations, 

 and bear well either the deep shade of the old tree or full expos- 

 ure to the sun. Young white oaks are apt to form a large part 

 of the new growth after the removal of the yellow poplar, short- 

 leaf pine or the white oak itself. In many parts of the original 

 forest, on poor soil, white oak is the predominant tree, and it 

 generally forms a large part of second growth of mixed hard- 

 woods. Small trees sprout freely and vigorously from the stump. 

 Individuals over 3 inches in diameter are not easily killed by fire. 

 Large trees are rarely hollow. Though a large number of insects 

 live on the white oak, it is not seriously injured by borers or 

 insects which attack the leaves or twigs. A weavil frequently 

 destroys the acorns. 



The leaves are acute at the base, with 7 to 9 blunt, rounded, 

 usually entire lobes. The male flowers are in long slender threads, 



