101 



Loiivf^s grayisli or yollowisli pubescent l)eneath; scales 

 of cup with a reddish-brown border; nut enclosed 



for about 1 3 its length 10 tj. faleata. 



Leaves brownish or rusty ' pubescent beneath, some- 

 times appearing grayish; scales of oup without a 

 dark border; nut enclosed for about half of its length. 

 Lea^■e^ expanded at the apex, and generally with 



three lobes ; mature twigs generally scurvy-pubescent 17 Q. marilandii/a. 

 Leaves deejily lobed; mature t'nlg-s generally glabrous. 14 Q. \'elutin». 



1. Qiicrciis alba Linnreiis. White Oak. Plato 40. Lai-ge 

 trees with gray, fissured liark, flaky on the branches, on the iij^per part 

 of the trunks of some trees the bark loosens at the fissures and peels 

 back, forming flat strips which remain attached at one side; twigs at 

 first hairy, becoming smooth; leaves mostly obovate in outline, generally 

 S-20 cm. long on petioles 0.5-2 cm. long, more or less deeply lobed into 

 5-9 lobes, the lobes ascending and generally blunt and entire, sometimes 

 the lolies have one or two secondary lobes, leaves narrowed and oblique 

 at the base, smooth alwve, smooth and glaucous beneath; acorns sessile 

 or on stalks u]i to 2 cm. long; nuts quite variable on different trees 

 as to size and shape, ovoid or oblong, 18-30 mm. long; cup flat on the 

 botton, tuberculate and encloses about i^^ of the nut; scales lilunt and 

 woolly. 



DislribulioH. — Maine, southern Ontario, Minnesota south to 

 Florida and Texas. Found in all parts of Indiana. In point of number 

 it is exceeded only by the beech, although it has a more general distribu- 

 tion. It is adapted to many types of soil, and is found in almost all 

 situations in Indiana except in very wet soils. It is sparingly fouml 

 in the sand dune area. On the clay soils of the northern part of the 

 State it is a frequent to an abundant tree, and in the southern part of 

 the State it often forms complete stands on the slopes of the hills. 



The white oak is one of the largest and possibly the longest lived 

 tree of Indnina. While it is able to adapt itself to manj' situations, 

 it grows to the largest size in a porous, moist and rich soil. 



Remarks. — Wood heavy, hard, close-grained, tough, strong and 

 durable. On account of its abiuidance, and wide range of uses, it has 

 always been the most important timber tree of Indiana. 



Formerly the woods were fuU of white oak 1-1.5 meters (3-5 ft.) in 

 diameter, but today trees of a meter (3 ft.) in diameter with long 

 straight trunks are rare indeed. Michaux who traveled extensively in 

 America 1801-1807, while the whole Mississippi Valley was yet a wilder- 

 ness, remarks: "The white oak is the most valuable tree in Amer- 

 ica." He observed the ruthless destruction of this valuable tree, and 

 predicted that the supplj^ would soon be depleted, antl that Americ 



a 



