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WILLOW OAK. 

 Quercus phellos, Linnaeus. 



FORM — This tree usually attains a height of 50-GO ft. with a diameter of 1^-2 ft., but may 

 reach a height of 80 ft. with a diameter of 4 feet. Crown usually narrow, rather open, 

 pyramidal and round-topped. 



BARK — Eeddish-brown, l-Z of an inch thick, shallowly fissured and scaly. 



TWIGS — Rather stout, smooth and shining during first winter, reddish-brown to dark brown. 



BUDS — Alternate, ovate, about 1 of an inch long, strongly angled, sharp-pointed, covered 

 by loosely overlapping dark brown scales which are slightly serrated on the margin. 



LEAVES — Alternate, narrowly elliptic, sometimes lanceolate, narrowed at apex and base, 

 2-5 inches long, i-1 inch wide, entire or with slightly wavy margins; terminated by a sharp 

 bristle-pointed apex. 



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



FLOWERS — Appear about May when leaves are J developed. Staminate flowers slender, 

 hairy, yellowish, 2-3 inches long. Pistillate flowers borne on smooth slender stalks. 



FRUIT — An acorn, maturing at the end of the second season, usually solitary, sessile or nearly 

 so. Nut hemispheric, I inch in diameter, pale yellow-brown, sometimes striate. Cup saucer- 

 shaped, covers only a small portion of the base of the nut and is covered with close, thin, 

 hairy, reddish-brown scales. Kernel is very bitter and yellowish in color. 



WOOD — Ring-porous; with conspicuous medullary rays; strong, coarse-grained, rather soft 

 and light brown. Weighs 46.56 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for fuel and to a limited extent 

 for general construction and felloes in wagon wheels. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Willow Oak, also known as the Peach Oak, 

 Water Oak, Swamp Oak, and Pin Oak, may readily be distinguished from all the other oaks 

 of Pennsylvania except the Laurel Oak by its characteristic leaf, which resembles the leaf of 

 a willow rather than the typical oak leaf. The Laurel Oak is the only other oak which 

 bears a leaf that shows any resemblance, but its leaf is longer and broader, more obtuse- 

 pointed, and hairy beneath. The cups of the acorns of this species are flatter and the acorns 

 smaller than those of the Laurel Oak. The buds of this species are dark chestnut-brown in 

 color, while those of the Laurel Oak are light brown and not angular. 



RANGE — From New York to Florida, westward to Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found only in the southeastern part of the State. 

 Reported from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Philadelphia counties. 



HABITAT — Usually found on wet sandy soil, and occurs frequently along swamps and 

 streams, but occasionally is found on higher areas where it may reach a fair size. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES— This species is so limited in its natural distribution In 

 this State and its wood is of so little commercial importance that it cannot be considered of 

 forestai value. It should not be planted for forestry purposes but deserves to be planted 

 ornamentally, especially in parks and along avenues. It hybridizes with several species of other 

 Oaks, especially the Red Oak, and these hybrids are often very attractive ornamentally. 



