Handbook of Tkees of the ^ortiiekn States and Canada. 161 



This intevestiiif; and stately oak, \\ hi'ii grow- 

 ing; among otlier tiers in favorable localities, 

 attains a liei?:lit of 100 ft. with straight enl- 

 iinuiar trnnk M-4 ft. in ilianietev, elolhed in 

 cpiitp smooth hark, hut tissnreil on old trunks 

 into flat lirni ridges. It is distinctly a tree 

 of the low lands of the Gulf and Atlantic coast 

 regions reaching its northernnajst point of dis- 

 trihution in the Dismal Swamp of easteiai Wv- 

 trinia. There it is common along the horder of 

 the great swamp in company with the Over-cup 

 (.)ak. Red. Loblolly and Sweet Bays, Carolina 

 .-\sli. Sourwood, Water, Tupelo and Sweet Gums, 

 White Cedar, etc. 



It is a beautiful tree with its laurel-like 

 leaves and sturdy trunks and is deservedly 

 po|)ular as a shade tree in tire southern states, 

 where it is commonly planted and is usually 

 ealleil the Watrr Oak. The wood heretofore 

 has been used mainly for fuel and charcoal, 

 though suitable tor lumber for interior finish- 

 ing, etc. A cubic foot when absolutely dry 

 weighs 47.82 Ibs.i 



Leaum narrow-otiloncr to oblonff-obovate, some- 

 times falcate, 2-4 in. lona'. ciuieate at ha^^^. 

 roiindeft or acute at apex, entire or on vicornns 

 brancties unequally lobed, at maturity Instrons 

 dark green above, paler beneath ; petioles short 

 and stout. Floirrr.'<: staminate in reddish hairy 

 aments 2-:^, in. long ; pistillate with short stout 

 elahrnus peduncles. Fniit sessile or nearly so. 

 iisaally solitary with short ovoid to hemisphei-ical 

 nut. pnbernlou's at apex about one fourth inclosed 

 in a thin flat saucer-shaped cup with thin pale- 

 pubescent closely imbricated scales. 



I. .\. \V., .\II. 



295 



