FAGACEAE 
Bur Oak 
Quercus macrocarpa Michx. 
HABIT.—A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk 2-4 feet 
in diameter; great, spreading branches form a broad, rugged 
crown. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 6-10 inches long and one-half 
as broad; obovate to oblong, wedge-shaped at the base; crenately 
lobed, usually cut nearly to the midrib by two opposite sinuses 
near the middle; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, 
pale pubescent beneath; petioles short, stout. 
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the stam- 
inate in slender, hairy catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate sessile 
or short-stalked, reddish, tomentose; calyx 4-6-lobed, yellow- 
green, downy; corolla 0; stamens 4-6, with yellow anthers; 
stigmas bright red. 
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked 
acorns; very variable in size and shape; cup typically deep, cup- 
shaped, tomentose, fringed at the rim, inclosing one-third or all 
of the nut; nut broad-ovoid, 44-144 inches long, brownish, pube- 
scent; kernel white, sweet and edible. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud % inch long, broadly 
ovoid or conical, red-brown, pale-pubescent. 
BARK.—Twigs yellow-brown, thick-tomentose, becoming 
ash-gray or brownish; branches with corky ridges; thick and 
gray-brown on the trunk, deeply furrowed. 
‘WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very 
durable, brownish, with thin, pale sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout both peninsulas. 
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist soil; bottom-lands; but is 
tolerant of many soils. 
NOTES.—Rather slow of growth. Difficult to transplant. 
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