Handbook of Trees of the I^oetheen States and Canada. 171 



The Overciip 0;\k is n tree Ordinarily of 

 medium stature, but rarely attains the 

 height of nearly 100 ft. with trunk 3 or 4 ft. 

 in diameter. In its distribution it is confined 

 to swamps and low wet bottom-lands, often 

 that are more or less inundated during the 

 greater part of the year. Its associates in 

 these localities are the Water and Laurel 

 Oaks, Swamp Bay, Tupelo Gum, Water Gum, 

 Water Ash, River Birch, Cypress, etc. It is 

 not often found isolated from other trees, but 

 when so it has a handsome oblong or rounded 

 top with more or less pendulous branchlets. 



The wood of the Overcup Oak is heavy, a 

 cubic foot when absolutely dry weighing 51.80 

 lbs., hard, strong, and is durable in contact 

 with the soil. These desirable qualities make 

 it applicable to the same uses as those to 

 which the White Oak is applied, from which it 

 is not distinguished in commerce. i 



Leaves obovate-oblong, wedge-shaped at base, 

 lyrate-pinnatifid or lobed to beyond the middle, 

 with 5-0 entire or sparingly-toothed triangular 

 oblique lobes the upper pair usually the larger and 

 more divergent, shining dark green above, white 

 tomentose. beneath. Flowers: staminate aments 

 3-6 in. long ; calyx with 5 acute lobes. Fruit 

 sessile or with short peduncles ; nut mostly de- 

 pressed globose and nearly or quite enveloped by 

 the cup which is rather thin, hoary tomentose, 

 with thick rugged united scales at the base but 

 gradually thinner towards the margin, which 

 often splits irregularly. 



1. A. W., XII, 293. 



