146 



LAUREL OAK. 

 Quercus imbricaria, Michaux. 



FORM — A tree usually attaining a height of 50-GO ft. but may reach a height of 100 ft. with 

 a diameter of 3 feet. Crown in mature trees rather open, often shallow, while in younger 

 specimens it is pyramidal, rather closed, and the lateral drooping branches often touch the 

 ground. 



BAEK — Up to li inches in thickness, roughened by shallow fissures which separate ridges 

 covered by close light brown scales. On younger stems thin, often smooth and shiny. 



TWIGS — Slender, at first dark green and lustrous; later light brown to dark brown. 



BUDS — Alternate, ovate, sharp-pointed, slightly angular, i of an inch long and covered 

 with numerous close-fitting, overlapping, erose, chestnut-brown scales with serrate margins. 



LEAVES — Alternate, oblong to lanceolate, 4-6 inches long, 1-2 inches wide, wedge-shaped 

 or round at the base, acute at apex, with usually entire or undulate margins. Mature leaves 

 are thin, dark and shiny above; pale green and hairy below. 



LEAF-SCARS— See "Leaf -Scars" under White Oak, page 132. 



FLOWERS — Appear about May when leaves are i developed. Staminate flowers in hairy 

 aments 2-3 inches long. Pistillate on short stalks above staminate. 



FRUIT — An acorn, maturing at the end of the second season, solitary or in pairs, stalked. 

 Nut ovoid hi of an inch long, dark brown. Cup embraces almost i of nut, saucer-shaped, 

 brown and shining inside, covered by numerous, closely overlapping, reddish-brown, hairy 

 scales. 



WOOD — Ring-porous; with conspicuous medullary rays; hard, coarse-grained, reddish-brown. 

 It checks easily and consequently finds a limited use in construction work. Weighs 46.92 

 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for fuel, charcoal, shingles, and manufactured into lumber. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Laurel Oak, also known as Shingle Oak, Jack 

 Oak, and Water Oak, may readily be distinguished from all the other Oaks of Pennsylvania 

 except the Willow Oak, by its characteristic leaf. The Willow Oak is smaller, has narrower and 

 sharper-pointed leaves which are not hairy beneath. The leaves of this species are hairy 

 beneath. The acorns are larger and the cups not so flat as those of the Willow Oak. The 

 winter buds of the Laurel Oak are light chestnut-brown and somewhat angular, while those of 

 the Willow Oak are dark chestnut-brown. 



RANGE — Pennsylvania to Michigan and Nebraska, south to Georgia and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN . PENNSYLVANIA— Found locally west of the Alleghenies as far 

 north as Indiana county. Also reported from Lehigh, Huntingdon, and Bedford counties. 



HABITAT — It occurs in rich bottomlands, often near streams, and also in rather moist 

 fertile uplands. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — It reaches dimensions so that it can produce lumber of 

 commercial size and quantity, but other superior species will grow in the same place and 

 consequently it cannot be recommended for forestry purposes. It is, however, one of the most 

 attractive ornamental oaks and deserves to be planted extensively for such purposes. 



