HATiTDBOOK OF TeEES OF THE ISToETHEBN StATES AND CaNADA. 167 



The Post Oak is usually a tree of medium 

 stature attaining a height of 50 or 60 ft., but 

 in the exceptional forests of the Ohio basin it 

 is said to attain a height of 100 ft. and ilS 

 trunk a diameter of about 3 ft. When growing 

 in the open fields it develops a rounded or 

 obovoid top with stout branchlets and shining 

 dark green foliage, which in autumn turns to 

 various shades of yellow and brown. 



It is one of the most marked of our oaks in 

 the peculiarity of its leaves, which, tufted at 

 the ends of the branchlets in great star-shaned 

 clusters, suggests at once the appropriateness 

 of Wangenheim's name, Q. stellata. It inhabits 

 limestone ridges and sandy plains in company 

 with the Black Jack, Eed, White and other 

 Oaks, the Sassafras, Gums, Flowering Dogwood, 

 Red Cedar, etc. 



Its heav}', hard and durable wood is valued 



in the manufacture of agricultural implements, 



casks, etc., and to some extent for furniture. 



It is also used extensively for railwaj' ties, 



fence posts, etc., and makes excellent fuel. 



A cubic foot Avhen absolutely dry weighs 52.14 



lbs.= 



Leaves broad-obovate, 4-8 in. long, cuneate or 

 rounded at base, deeply lyrate-pinnatifid with 

 usually 5 (sometimes S or 7) wid^ divergent en- 

 tire or undulate rounded lobes, the central pair 

 much the largest and usually notched, at ma- 

 turity firm shining dark green with scattered 

 stellate hairs above, grayish or ye'^owish pubes- 

 cpnt beneath : petioles and midribs pubescent. 

 Flowers: staminate calyx yellow with .5 laciniately 

 out lobes : stigmas short, dilated. Fruit maturing 

 the first year, sessile or nearly so: acorn ovoid- 

 oblong, 1/^-1 in. long, about half Inclosed by the 

 fiemispheric cup. 



1. Syn. Q. obtusiloba Michx. Q. stellata Wang. 



2. A. W., IV, 92. 



