The Trees of Texas 65 
(2) Cup top-shaped or hemispheric, 
enclosing the nut_ generally 
about % its length. 
(a) Inner bark bright orange, 
scales of the cup large, 
forming a loose margin.... 19 Q. velutina. 
(b) Inner bark gray, reddish, or 
yellow, cup less than %’ 
PEOR wa esc SE ly ONE 20 Q. Texana. 
ec. Leaves irregularly lobed with a gray 
or rusty pubescence beneath........ 21 Q. digitata. 
d. Leaves obovate with 38-5 lobes above 
the middle. 
(>) 4ueaves hairy beneath... 0.2.01... 22 Q. Marylandica. 
(2) Leaves smooth beneath........ 23 Q. nigra. 
2. Leaves entire or with few teeth. 
a. Leaves smooth beneath,’ sharp 
Pemited, (Cups Very fates ot es SE 24 Q. Phellos. 
b. Leaves hairy beneath, cup saucer | 
IEC wren et oceer ees 4.0 eee. ts NT ES 25 Q. cinerea. 
1. Quercus alba Linnaeus. White Oak. A large forest 
tree usually 60°-80° in height and trunk diameter of 4° but 
frequently larger. Trees growing in the open are rather low 
with round full crown, crowded in the forest they become 
tall and without branches except at the extreme top. The 
bark is a hght gray, sometimes tinged with brown, flaky 
without deep fissures except on the lower part of the main 
trunk. Leaves obovate to oblong, 4’-8’ in length, wedge-shaped 
at base, 3-9 usually 7 lobed, the lobes entire or with one or 
two secondary lobes, pale and smooth beneath, bright or dull 
green above. Flowers appearing before the leaves have 
reached more than one-fourth their mature size. Acorns 
stalked or sessile, ovoid to oblong, the cup enclosed from 14 
to 14 of its length. 
Southern Maine, Ontario, west to Minnesota and south to 
Florida and Texas. In Texas it extends to the valley of the 
Brazos. 
The wood. is heavy, hard, close grained and is very tough, 
durable, and strong. The heart wood is light brown, the sap 
wood heght. The medullary rays are prominent and the quar- 
ter sawed wood is extensively employed in the manufacture 
of furniture. It is the most valuable timber tree of America. 
5—Trees. 
