4 8 



recorded the scarlet oak as abundant in the Carol inas ever a hun- 

 dred years ago, an observation confirmed by Elliott (in 1824), 

 Chapman, Curtis and others. As its Southern limits are 

 approached the scarlet oak changes its habit considerably. As a 

 low and contorted scrub oak it is found on the exposed and rocky 

 summits of our Carolina mountains, and even in Chapel Hill, 

 N. C, which is near the eastern boundary of the piedmont section, 

 it is most abundant on the dryer, gravelly hills. In the coastal 

 plain of North and South Carolina it descends into the damper 

 valleys and prefers the richest woods. 



Black Oak ( Quercus velutina Lam. ) . 



This is our largest but not our longest-lived oak. The bark is 

 dark and the large leaves are covered beneath when young with 

 a fine yellowish powder which is mostly worn away by mid- 

 summer. The acorn is large and has a deep cup. This oak is 

 generally called red oak (which it is not) with us, and is not 

 distinguished from the scarlet oak or indeed from the Spanish 

 oak. It is one of the commonest trees of the county. 



Spanish Oak {Quercus falcata Michx.). 



This is one of our finest and commonest oaks. It is of rapid 

 growth, but is very long-lived and we have no better tree for 

 street or yard planting unless it be the willow oak. The leaves 

 are not so wide as those of the black oak, and they may also be 

 distinguished by their long, narrow central lobe and yellowish- 

 gray, tomentose under surface. The acorns are small, and when 

 fresh are bright red on the scar. 



Water Oak {Quercus nigra L.). 



A rather small tree with small leaves that are deep green on 

 both sides and widest at the end. It is common in flat woods and 

 bays, and is often planted as a street tree. Many of the trees in 

 the business part of town are of this species. It is related to the 

 willow oak, but is inferior to that species both in size and 

 longevity. 



Turkey Oak {Quercus Catesbaei Michx.). 



This small scrub oak is very abundant in the sand hills and 

 other dry, sandy soils. The thick leaves have long narrow lobes 

 and are smooth and light green below. The acorn is large and 

 is set in a deep cup with spreading scales. There are some very 

 large specimens immediately around the Baptist Church, as 

 shown in Plate III. 



