Handbook of Trees of the Koetherx States A^'D Canada. 141 



This -tree in tlie rich bottom-Iantls of the 

 Wabash Eiver basin is said to attain a lieight 

 of nearl}'-200 ft., witli sturdy buttressed trunk 

 sometimes 7-8 ft. in diameter and 80-00 ft. 

 to its branches — dimensions niiich would 

 make this one of tlie largest of the American 

 Oaks — but such a size is very exceptional, as 

 it is usually a much smaller tree. It is com- 

 mon along the banks of streams and bottom- 

 lands of the Mississippi basin in company with 

 the Cottonwood, River Birch, Sour Gum, Sweet 

 Gum, Hackberry, CofFee-tree, Red and Silver 

 Maples, etc. In the extreme western part of 

 its range it is sometimes found fruiting as a 

 large shrub. 



Its wood is considered by lumbermen as of 

 better grade than that of the Northern Red 

 Oak. It is applied to the same uses as that 

 timber and is generally not distinguished from 

 it in commerce. - 



Leaves ovate to broad oval, .3%-8 in. long, trun- 

 cate or broad wedge-shaped at base, deeply pin- 

 natifid with broad rounded sinu.ses and 5-9 

 spreading lobes narrow below and spreading and 

 dentate at apex with bristle-pointed teeth, at ma- 

 turity thin, firm and shining darii green above 

 paler and with tufts of whitish hairs in axils be- 

 neath. Flowers: staminate in slender pubescent 

 aments ; calyx 4-5 with laeiniately cut lobes; 

 pistillate with short tomentose peduncles, stigmas 

 red. Fruit usually solitary, sessile or with short 

 stalks, ovoid, puberiilous light brown acorn, Vi-iVi 

 in. long, sometimes striated, 2-.'^ times as high as 

 the shallow or somewhat turbinate cup with thin 

 closely appressed light brown tomentose scales. 



1. Syn. Qiiercus SclmecMi Britt. 



2. A. W. XII, 294. 



