Handbook of Trees of the JSToRTHEEisr States and Canada. 1Y5 



This large and important £)ak is one of the 

 most valuable timber trees of the southern 

 states, and in forests sometimes attains the 

 height of 100 ft., with columnar trunk 3 or 4 

 ft. in diameter vested in a pale gray scaly 

 ridged bark. It is one of our handsomest Oaks 

 with its ample leaves showing alternately 

 their glossy dark green upper surfaces and 

 velvety white lower surfaces, as agitated by 

 the wind. It is confined in its distribution 

 mainly to low swampy grounds, rich bottom- 

 lands and the borders of streams subject to 

 frequent inundation, where it is found in com- 

 pany with the Water Hickory, Swamp Bay, 

 Planer Tree, Water and Laurel Oaks, the 

 Gums, Red Maple, etc. 



Its wood, of which a cubic foot when absolutely 

 dry weighs 50.10 lbs., is hard, tough, strong and 

 very durable in contact with the soil and is 

 highly valued for furniture and interior finish- 

 ing, cooperage, the manufacture of agricultural 

 implements, fence posts, fuel, etc., and is con- 

 sidered the best of our woods for the manu- 

 facture of baskets. 1 



Leaves obovate, usually 4-8 In. long, broad, ob- 

 tuse or roundPd at base, "acute or acuminate, regu- 

 larly crenate-toothed. with 8-12 pairs of primary 

 veins terminating in the teeth, rather thick, lust- 

 rous dark green above, whitish and velvety pubes- 

 cent beneath. Floircrs: staminate aments slender, 

 3-4 in. long ; pistillate with short tomentose pe- 

 duncles and short red stigmas. Fruit solitary 

 or in pairs, sessile or nearly so; nut 1-1% in. in 

 length, ovoid-oblong and about Vi enveloped in the 

 hoary-tomentose closely imbricated pointed scales, 

 those near the base thick tuberculate. 



1. A. W., V, 116. 



