121 



10. Quercus rubra Linnaeus. [Que7-cus maxima (Marshall) Ashe 

 of some recent authors]. Red Oak. Plate 49. Large trees; winter 

 buds ovoid, pointed, reddish, outer scales glabrous, sometimes pube- 

 scent on the edges; twigs soon smooth and reddish; leaves on petioles 

 2.5-5 cm. long, 10-20 cm. long, oval to oblong-obovate, broadly wedge- 

 shape or truncate at the base, the margins divided by wide or narrow 

 sinuses generally into 7-9 lobes, sometimes as many as 11, the lobes not 

 uniform in size or shape, lobes broadest at the base and ending generally 

 in 1-5 bristle points, pubescent above and below at first, soon becoming 

 smooth at maturity and a dark green above, paler and yellowish-green 

 beneath and smooth or with tufts of tomentum in the axils of the veins; 

 acorns solitary or in pairs, sessile or on verj^ short stalks; nuts ovoid, 

 flat at the base, and rounded at the apex, 2-3 cm. long, enclosed for 

 about }{ their length in the shallow cup; cups 2-3 cm. in diameter, 

 thick, saucer-shape, fiat or only slightly rounded at the base; scales 

 ovate, blunt, appressed, and pubescent on the back; kernel somewhat 

 bitter, eaten by hogs and cattle, but not relished by wild animals. 



Distribution. — Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Florida and 

 west to Texas. Found throughout Indiana, although local in the knob 

 area. Its preferred habitat is that of moist, rich and fairly well drained 

 woods. It does not thrive in situations that are inundated much of the 

 winter season such as the pin oak will endure. In the southern part of 

 the State, especially in the flats it is frequentlj^ found on the high l^luffs 

 of streams and very large forest trees are frequent on a dry wooded 

 slope of ten acres, on the Davis farm four miles south of Salem. In a 

 congenial habitat it was a frequent to a common tree, although such a 

 thing as nearly a pure stand would never be met with, such as was often 

 formed by the white, black, shingle or pin oak. 



Remarks. — Wood hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, but not as 

 good as white oak in any of its mechanical qualities. Commercially 

 all of the biennial oaks are usuallj^ considered as red oak. The true red 

 oak, however, is generally considered the best of all the biennial oaks. 

 LTntil recently, when white oak became scarce, red oak was not in much 

 demand, and was used principally for construction material. Now it is 

 substituted in many places for white oak, and the uses now are in a 

 great measure the same as those of white oak. 



The red oak grows rapidly, and is able to adapt itself to many soil 

 conditions. It has been used in European countries for two centuries 

 for shade and ornamental planting. It reproduces easily by planting 

 the acorns, and should receive attention by woodlot owners as a suitable 

 species for reinforcing woodlands, or in general forest planting. 



