608 
MONOECIA TRTANDRIA* 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 448. Walt. p. 235. Mich. 2. p. 195. Pursh, 2, p. 633. 
Nutt. p. 215. 
Icon. Mich. Querc. t. 5. Mich. aib. for. p. 13. 
This is one of the largest and most valuable trees in the American Forests* 
growing frequently to the height of 7 0 or 80 feet, with a diameter of 3 — 5, 
and, according to Michaux, sometimes of 7 feet. Its trunk is often straight 
for 40 or 50 feet, and free from branches. Leaves on short petioles, deeply 
pinnatifid, pubescent and glaucous underneath, lobes oblong, obtuse. Fruit 
large, frequently in pairs. Nut ovate. Cup deep, inclosing nearly half of 
the acorn. 
This tree is supposed to produce the best timber of any Oak in the United 
States, excepting the Q. Virens. It furnishes to Naval Architecture, from its 
straight trunk and great size, many pieces of timber which cannot be procur- 
ed from the Live Oak. In Civil Architecture, in Machinery, to the Car- 
riage-Maker, and to numerous other artizans, it offers many advantages, and 
is employed wherever a wood, straight, compact, strong, elastic, durable but 
heavy, is required. Its staves are also preferred to those of any other tree; 
and its bark, not much used, is said to be valuable to the tanner. Perhaps 
no tree in the United States possesses so many good qualities. 
It grows in a rich damp soil. In the low country of Carolina and Geor- 
gia, it is found along the margins of swamps, and in flat rich high lands. In 
the upper country it seeks a rich and rather damp soil. In all of these situa- 
tions it attains a large size. But, the district which contains the finest forests of 
the Q. Alba, the Q. Obtusiloba, and the Q. Prinus (Palustris) in the United 
States, and probably in the world, is the country which encloses the Ala- 
bama and its tributary streams. 
Flowers April. 
ft Foliis dentatis. j ft Leaves toothed . 
22. Prinus. Lin. 
Q. foliis petiolatis, 
obovatis, acutis, subtus 
pubescentibus, grosse 
dentatis, dentibus sub- 
aequalibus, dilatatis, 
apice callosis; glande 
majuscula, ovata. 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 439. Walt. p. 234. 
Nutt. 2. p. 215. 
Icon. Mich. Querc. t. 6. Mich, a: 
Leaves on petioles, 
obovate, acute, pube- 
scent underneath, 
coarsely toothed, teeth 
unequal, dilated, cal- 
lous at the summit; nut 
large, ovate. 
Mich. 2. p. 195. Pursh, 2. p. 633. 
). for. 2. p. 51. 
