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Common Trees 



WHITE OAK 



Quercus alba, Linnaeus 



THE WHITE Oak is the most important hardwood forest 

 tree native to North America. It has held this front 

 rank place since the earliest days of colonization. This tree 

 was common in the original forests of the rich agricultural 

 areas of New York. 



The leaves are simple, 

 alternate, 5 to 9 inches 

 long, 2 to 4 inches 

 wide. They are divided 

 into 3 to 9, usually 7, 

 blunt - pointed, finger- 

 like lobes. Mature leaves 

 are deep green above and 

 light green beneath. 



The flowers appear 

 about May and are of 

 two kinds. The pol- 

 len - bearing occur on 

 the old growth in 

 drooping tassels 2 or 3 

 inches long. The acorn- 

 p r o d u c ing occur in 

 small clusters on the 

 new growth. 



The fruit is a sessile or 

 short-stalked acorn ma- 

 turing in one season. 

 The light brown nuts 

 are about % of an inch long, seated in a warty cup, enclos- 

 ing about % of nut. The nuts are relished by wild animals. 

 The bark is grayish-white and peels off in numerous loose 

 scales. The early settlers made it into a tea used in the 

 treatment of tonsilitis. The twigs are smooth, light-gray, 

 dotted with light lenticels. 



The buds are alternate, egg-shaped, blunt-pointed, reddish- 

 brown, clustered at end of twigs. The wood is heavy, hard, 

 strong, close-grained, light-brown, durable. Its uses are in- 

 terior finish, flooring, furniture, general construction, imple- 

 ments and fuel. 



The White Oak is found from Maine to Minnesota and 

 south to Florida and Texas. It is common throughout New 

 York south of the Adirondacks and locally northward. This 

 tree reaches its best development on rich moist soil, where it 

 attains a height of 75 to 100 feet and 2 to 4 feet in diameter. 



WHITE OAK 



One-fourth natural size. 



Single flowers and twig sections, enlarged 



