0.88] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



153 



1. Q,u6rcusalba, L. (AMERICAN WHITE 

 OAK.) Leaves short- stemmed, acute at 

 base, with 3 to 9 oblong, obtuse, usually 

 entire, oblique lobes, very persistent, 

 mauy remaining on the tree through the 

 winter; pubescent when young, soon 

 smooth, bright green above. Acorns in 

 the axils of the leaves of the year, ovoid- 

 oblong, 1 in., in a shallow, rough cup, 

 often sweet and edible. A large tree, 

 60 to 80 ft. high, with stem often 6 ft. 

 in diameter; wood light-colored, hard, 

 tough and very useful. Common throughout 



Q. fUba. 



2. Q,u6rcus stellata, Wang. 

 ( POST-OAK. BOUGH OR Box 

 WHITE OAK.) Leaves 4 to 6 

 in. long, sinuately cut into 5 

 to 7 roundish, divergent lobes, 

 the upper ones much larger and 

 often 1- to 3-notched, grayish- 

 or yellowish-downy beneath, 

 and pale and rough above. 

 Acorn ovoid, about y z in. long, 



one third to one half inclosed in a deep, saucer-shaped cup ; in the 



axils of the leaves of the year. A medium-sized tree, 40 to 50 ft. 



high, with very hard, durable wood, resembling that of the White 



Oak. Massachusetts, south and west. 



3. Q,u6rcus macrocarpa, Michx. 

 (BUR-OAK. MOSSY-CUP.) Leaves 

 obovate or oblong, lyrately pin- 

 natifid or deeply sinuate-lobed or 

 nearly parted, the lobes sparingly 

 and obtusely toothed or entire. 

 Acorn broadly ovoid, 1 in. or more 

 long, one half to almost entirely 

 inclosed in a thick and woody cup 

 with usually a mossy fringed bor- 

 der formed of the upper awned 

 scales ; cup very variable in size, % 

 to 2 in. across. A handsome, mid- 

 dle-sized tree, 40 to 60 ft. high. 

 Western New England to Wisconsin, and southwestward, 



