THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 69 



the State. If it exists in the Lower District, it must 

 be sparingly. 



16. Scarlet OxVK. (Q. coccinea, Wang.) — This 

 is generally confounded with the preceding species, 

 and called Spanish and Red Oak in this State. It 

 can be distinguished from the Black Oak by the 

 leaves being more deeply cut, the divisions narrower 

 and more widely separated, but especially by their 

 being quite smooth on both sides and of a brighter 

 shining green, turning bright scarlet after frost. The 

 leaf-stem is also more slender and twice as long as in 

 the Black Oak. The kernel of the acorn seems also 

 to supply a uniform character of distinction, — that 

 of the Scarlet Oak being white, and of the Black Oak, 

 yellowish. The bark, when chewed, does not, like 

 that of the Black Oak, impart a yellowish tinge to 

 the saliva. The wood is very similar to that of the 

 preceding'species, but is not very durable, and is not 

 used for building, etc., when better material can be 

 had. What is known as Bed Oak staves are made 

 from this as well as from the two preceding species! 

 The bark is much inferior for tanning to that of the 

 Black Oak. 



This tree ranges from New England to Georgia 

 and Florida. In this State it abounds chiefly in the 

 Middle and Upper Districts, it not being generally 

 diffused in the Lower. 



17. Red Oak. (Q. rubra, Linn.)— This, like the 

 preceding species, is sometimes called Spanish Oak, 

 though it is as strongly marked a tree as can be found 



