FAGACEAE 
Red Oak 
Quercus rubra L, 
HABIT.—A large tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter 
of 2-4 feet; forming a broad, rounded crown of a few large, 
wide-spreading branches and slender branchlets. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, 4-6 inches 
broad; oval to obovate; 5-11-lobed with coarse-toothed, bristle- 
tipped lobes tapering from broad bases and wide, oblique, 
rounded sinuses; thin and firm; dull dark green above, paler 
beneath; petioles stout, 1-2 inches long. 
FLOWERS.—April-May, when the leaves are half grown; 
monoecious; the staminate in thairy catkins 4-5 inches long; the 
pistillate on short, glabrous peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, greenish; 
corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spread- 
ing, bright green. m 
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked 
acorns; cup shallow, saucer-shaped, inclosing only the base of 
the nut; scales closely appressed, more or less glossy, puberulous, 
bright red-brown; nut oblong-ovoid with a broad base, about 1 
inch long, red-brown; kernel white, very bitter. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 14 inch long, ovoid, acute, 
light brown, smooth. 
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, green, becoming reddish, finally 
dark brown; young trunks smooth, gray-brown; old trunks 
darker, shallowly fissured into thin, firm, broad ridges; inner 
bark light red, not bitter. 
WOOD.—Heavy,- hard, strong, coarse-grained, light red- 
brown, with thin, darker colored sapwood. ; 
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern portion of Lower Peninsula 
as far north as Roscommon County. 
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist loam; glacial drift; stream- 
banks. Grows well in all well-drained soils. 
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. A good street tree. 
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