The Trees of Texas 69 
3. Quercus macrocarpa Micheaux. Burr Oak. Mossy Cup 
Oak. A large stately forest tree which in its maximum size 
may reach a height of 170° with trunk diameter of 6°-7°. It 
is, however, more commonly medium size 40°-60° high. The 
branches are stout and spreading, forming a wide open crown. 
Bark 1’-2’ thick, gray to brown, deeply fissured. Leaves obo- 
vate or oblong, 4’-12’ long, 5-9 lobed, variable, some of them 
barely lobed, others cut almost to the midrib, dark green and 
smootn above, whitish and hairy beneath. Acorn ovoid, 34’ 
to 114’ long, one-third to almost its entire length enclosed in 
the cup-shaped cup. The upper edge of the cup is fringed 
with a mossy border made up of the awned upper scales. 
Nova Scotia to Manitoba, Minnesota, Wyoming. south to 
Georgia, and west Texas. In Texas it extends to the Nueces 
River. 
The wood is similar to that of Q. alba, both being called 
white oak by lumbermen. The supply of these two valuable 
timber trees is rapidly diminishing. There remains practically 
no virgin forests. 
4. Quercus lyrata Walter. Overcup Oak. A large forest 
tree 100° in height and 2°-3° in diameter. The trunk is either 
tall, erect, or divided into several main branches which are 
wide spreading, and form a beautiful rounded crown. The 
bark is one inch or more in thickness, light gray, fissured, and 
scaly. Leaves obovate-oblong, 5-9 lobed, frequently cut almost 
to the midrib near the middle, wedge shaped at base, green 
and smooth above, pale and hairy beneath. Acorns sessile 
or short stalked, nut globose, depressed, 34’ long, almost com- 
pletely enclosed in the rather thin reddish brown cup. 
Maryland south to Florida, west to Texas, and north 
through Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. Confined principally 
to moist soil. In Texas it extends to the Trinity Valley. Most 
abundant in wet rich alluvial soils. 
The wood and uses are similar to Quereus alba. It has 
been used extensively for railroad ties. 
5. Quercus prinoides Willdenow. Chinquapin Oak. <A 
shrub cr small tree sometimes reaching a height of 15°-20°. 
The bark is hght brown and somewhat sealy. Leaves obovate 
or oblanceolate, pointed or acute at the apex, wedge-shaped 
