28 BULLETIN 1282, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Main branches—Growth vigorous; long and somewhat slender, upright. 
Branching angle acute. Wood moderately brittle. Bark rough on old branches, 
exfoliates in rather thin flakes. On young branches, bark dark brown, often 
with thin layer of gray epidermis, frequently striated. ’ 
Twigs.——Top of tree slightly willowy. Twigs make good vigorous growth, 
rather slender and flexible. Wood somewhat brittle. Nodes large. Internodes 
short (3 to Linch long). Bark thick, moderately tough, green in early summer, 
tinged with red in autumn. 
Lenticels—Very numerous, very large (size on bark 8 to 10 years old, 2 by - 
4 to $ by ? inch; on bark 5 and 6 years old, vs by x inch), very much raised, 
rough, cracked longitudinally, brownish gray; frequently run together endwise 
on older wood. Shape elliptical with curving sides; ends acute, extreme 
apexes frequently acuminate. On young wood, much raised, gray, conspicuous. 
(See Pl. XVI, A.) 
Foliage—Quite dense. Leaves tend to twist slightly, and when they do not 
they are slightly recurved. 
Blade: Varies much in size (% by 2 to 13 by 44 inches), average medium 
(1 by 8 inches). Shape wide ovate (ratio of width to length, 1:3). Base 
rather acute and tapering, sides curving gently outward; origin of sides usually 
symmetrical. Apex tapering for one-half to two-thirds the length of blade, 
extreme apex usually sharply acute but sometimes bluntly rounding. Margin 
frequently irregular; rather finely crenate, doubly crenate, or serrate. Midrib 
rather large, prominent, pale in color. Veins small but distinct, elevated on 
under surface. Upper surface light green and glossy. Lower surface dull, 
lighter green than upper. 
Petiole: Rather short (average length, #? inch; ratio of length of petiole to 
length of blade, 1:4). Varies in thickness, inclined to be stocky. Light green 
in color, reddish in fall. Groove medium in width to narrow; rather shallow, 
especially near point of attachment to twig. Glands usually two, small, globu- 
lar, dark brownish yellow, on petiole close to base of blade. Lower one or two 
basal crenations frequently glandular. 
Bearing habit—Tends to be an alternate bearer, having a light crop one year 
and a heavy crop the next. Bears on spurs, principally on wood 2 and 8 years 
old. Spurs rather stocky (3% inch), short to medium in length (3s to + inch); 
expands suddenly to disk, % by 2 inch in size. Buds exceedingly large, long, 
plump, sharp pointed, free, constricted and compressed at the base. Scales 
very large, thick, brittle, waxy, reddish brown, with a rather large quantity of 
long, grayish yellow pubescence. 
NUT 
Immature nut.—Very large (average 23 by 14 by 4 inches). Very plump. 
Widest near base. Shape, ovate, i. e., part on ventral side of axis ovate, part 
on dorsal side long oval. Ventral edge curves more than dorsal, curves most 
near shoulder; ridge prominent (% inch high, ? inch wide). Suture line down 
middle or slightly to one side of middle. Dorsal edge rather straight, plump, 
curves most at base and apex. Base plump, round, dorsally sloping, grooved 
and ridged, ventral shoulder round. Apex broadly pointed; style drops early; 
rudiment a mere bump. 
Hull: Outer surface rough, bumpy; green. Pubescence abundant, long, 
medium coarse, gray; small bumps give surface appearance of rough velvet. 
Inner surface green at first, turning brown gradually. Irregular in manner 
of dehiscing. Dehisces along ventral suture first: halves spread apart equally 
as a rule, ventral edges curl outward; frequently dehisces along both dorsal 
and ventral edges, the apex portions of the halves spreading apart equally. 
Harvesting dates, August 25 to September 20. 
Hulled nut.—(P1l. II, A.) Large but variable in size even on the same tree 
(14 by 1 by # to 2 by 14 by 14 inches). Number to the pound, 50 to 70. Per- 
centage of kernel to nut in hand-cracked samples, 25. 
Shape: Variable and irregular, but characteristic; wide, pointed, ovate, 
usually somewhat cordate, but sometimes almost rectangular, very wide in 
proportion to length, plump near base, but rather thin at apex. Ventral edge 
much curved. Flange pronounced, thick; flange and portion near it marked 
with oblique ridges; also one or two longitudinal depressions and ridges present 
on ventral edge. Ventral suture usually showing in winged flange as a line. 
Frequently there is a depression near stem scar on ventral side. Dorsal edge 
prominent, grooved or pitted, quite straight. Viewed edgewise, nut is sym- 
metrical and ovate, with apex half cuneiform. Base truncate or slightly 
