IOWA ACADEMY OE SCIENCES. 
181 
versal application of metals materially checked the strain 
on the timber resources, so that to-day our oak groves, as 
a rule, are suffering only from the demands for fuel and 
fence-posts, along with the greed for more pasture land. 
The opening of the large coal fields in southern Iowa 
materially reduces the fuel demand. 
The Oak family may be characterized as trees or shrubs, 
with alternate petioled, pinnately-veined leaves, deciduous 
stipules, and small monoecious, apetalous flowers. The 
staminate flowers are in pendulous, sometimes erect or 
spreading aments, with a 4-7-lobed perianth, and 4-20 
stamens. The pistillate flowers are solitary or several 
together, surrounded by an involucre composed of wholly 
or partially united bracts, which develop into a bur or cup. 
Perianth 4-8-lobed, adnate to the ovary. Ovary 3-7- 
celled; ovules 1-2 in each cell, pendulous, only one in each 
ovary developing. Represented in Iowa by the genus 
Quercus L. Sp. PI. 994, 1753. 
* Acorns maturing the first year; leaves not bristle-tipped 
t Leaves deeply lobed or pinnatifid. 
Quercus alba L. Sp. PI. 996, 1753. White Oak. Bark 
light gray; leaves oblong or obovate-oblong, green above, 
smooth, pale or glaucous beneath, short-petioled, sinuate- 
pinnatifid; lobes linear or oblong, obtuse, entire or lobed, 
base acute; acorn ovoid-oblong, cup depressed-hemispheric, 
shallow, about one-third the height of the acorn; scales 
obtuse, appressed, woolly, at length glabrous, lower ones 
knotty. 
This species occurs in upland woods, and is more or less 
common throughout the state. The wood is hard, tough, 
close-grained, of a brown color, and very strong, qualities 
which give utility and durability. Hence for construction 
materials the white oak is held in great esteem. The set- 
tlers drew from this oak materials for their houses, fences, 
etc. The trunks which were long and straight made excel- 
lent framing timbers, as sills, cross-beams, etc., unequaled 
rails or posts for fences, clapboards or shingles for roofs. 
On the advent of the local sawmills many trees were cut 
