Part 5

WHITE OAK (Quercus alba)

Shape short-trunked, with very broad rounded top; 50-70 ft. tall. Bark light gray, broken by shallow fissures into long, thin, flaky scales. Branches wide-spreading. Leaves reddish brown in autumn. Range: s. and w. N.E. to centr. Fla. and e. Tex., through the s. Gt. Lakes region to se. Minn. The wood is strong, tough, heavy and durable, and is used for boat-building, interior finish, agricultural implements, barrels and clapboards. The bark is valued in tanning. VALLEY OAK (Quercus lobata) called also Maul Oak, Weeping Oak, and Roble, is a magnificent tree of Calif. with wide spreading, drooping branches. Leaves with more numerous (7-11) lobes, dark green above, gray-downy beneath: bark on old trunks furrowed into squarish, corky, gray segments.

POST OAK (Quercus stellata)

Shape short-trunked, with broad, dense, round head; 60-100 ft. tall. Bark grayish brown, deeply fissured. Branches horizontal. Twigs brown. Leaves thickish, rough to touch above, gray downy below. Range: On the coast plain and piedmont of the Gulf States, n. to s. N.E., and up the Gt. Valley to Mo. and Ia., up the Ohio to Pa. The wood is heavy, hard, durable, but difficult to season; used for ties. The acorn is edible, like that of the White Oak, when boiled, and was used as a coffee substitute in the Confederate States. OREGON OAK (Quercus Garryana) is similar but with shorter leaves (2-5 in. long) and light gray bark. It is the finest timber oak from Wash. to Calif.

OVERCUP OAK (Quercus lyrata)

Shape a symmetrical, round topped head; up to 100 ft. tall. Branches inclined to droop, rather short. Leaves shiny above, white downy beneath, turning a deep cardinal red in autumn. Range: Swamps and river bottoms, coast plain and piedmont from the Gulf States to s. N. J., and up the Gt. Valley to Neb., Ill., and Ohio. The wood is like that of the White Oak and similarly used. BUR OAK (Quercus macrocarpa) is similar but the leaves broader, 5-8 in. long, maroon in autumn. Branches very wide-spreading; bark light grayish-brown, deeply furrowed. Acorn large, the rim of the cup almost bur-like. N. S. and w. N. E. through N. Y. and w. of the Alleghenies to n. La., e. Tex. and the Rockies. A noble tree once forming park-like groves in the Middle West in which the pioneers easily drove horse and wagon, built their first cabins and pastured their cattle.

BASKET OAK (Quercus Prinus)

Shape a round topped, dense head; up to 100 ft. tall. Trunk massive. Bark scaly, light gray. Branches stout, wide spreading. Leaves rather rigid, 4-8 in. long, grayish downy beneath. Range: Gulf States and n. in the Mississippi basin to Mo. and the Wabash R. Along the coast plain and piedmont to Del. This is a most imposing tree in the South. It is used in basketry, for ties and other rough construction. YELLOW CHESTNUT OAK (Quercus Muehlenbergii) is similar, but with a narrow head, narrower leaves, thicker and shorter acorn. Tex. to s. Minn. and through the forest belt of the Middle West and limestone Alleghenies (Ala. to N. Y.) Also down the Potomac and Hudson to tidewater. The glossy foliage and handsome stature make this an impressive tree, especially in the Middle West.

SWAMP WHITE OAK (Quercus bicolor)

Shape broad topped, 60-90 ft. tall. Bark light grayish brown, scaly. Leaves white down beneath, turning yellow brown or orange red in autumn. Range: s. N. E. to Gt. Lakes region and Minn., s. to Tex. and Fla. The wood is valuable like that of the White Oak but the tree is not so handsome. It is easily distinguished by its bark and the numerous twigs. ROCK CHESTNUT OAK (Quercus montana) is a massive tree with dark brown, ridged bark and foliage similar to the above but larger, glossy above and not downy beneath except in youth. Acorn large, lustrous, and handsome. Foliage in autumn yellow to dull orange. Throughout the Appalachian range from the Catskills and mts. of N. J. to Ala. and in the upper Ohio valley and w. N. Y. This noble tree forms stately groves in the southern mountains.

SOUTHERN LIVE OAK (Quercus virginiana)

Shape short trunked, the very broadly spreading branches making a crown wider than high; 40-50 ft. tall. Bark dark brown, rough, deeply furrowed, the ridges a grayer brown. Leaves evergreen, thick, 2-4 in. long, paler beneath with very fine down. Range: Coast plain from Tex. (and far up the Rio valley) to the Gt. Dismal Swamp and Mobjack Bay, Va. The wood is light golden brown, beautiful, very hard to work, used for ornamental interior finish on ships. With the immense spread of its branches this noblest, most picturesque tree of the far South forms gracious park-like groves. The Spanish Moss dripping from its boughs adds to its dreamy charm. CANYON LIVE OAK (Quercus chrysolepis) is similar but has pendulous branches, the leaves bluish rather than olive green. This is the finest evergreen oak from Ore. to Calif.

WILLOW OAK (Quercus Phellos)

Shape with a conical crown; to 80 ft. tall. Trunk stocky. Bark deep ruddy brown, shallowly seamed. Leaves glossy above, lighter beneath. Range: Gulf States and n. in the Gt. Valley to Ky., around the coast to Long Island. But for its acorns, small as they are, they would scarcely be recognized as an oak from its leaves. A favorite shade tree in S. cities. LAUREL OAK (Quercus imbricaria) is very similar, with larger, broader leaves, the under surface downy. Pa. to Ga., w. to s. Wisc., e. Neb., and Ark. COAST LIVE OAK (Quercus agrifolia) is a striking tree with evergreen, holly-like leaves and very long, slender little acorns in shallow cups. Grows 90 ft. tall or may be a mere shrub. Centr. and s. Calif. DESERT LIVE OAK (Quercus hyopleuca) differs from Coast Live Oak in having leaves white downy beneath, the margins not spiny-toothed. W. Tex. to s. Ariz.

RED OAK (Quercus borealis)

Shape round headed; 50-150 ft. tall. Trunk usually extensively branching about 15 ft. from the ground. Bark on young parts gray brown; on trunk dark brown and finally broken by shallow furrows into long, straight, flat faced ridges. Twigs rather slender, red. Leaves paler beneath, in autumn turning a rich maroon red. Range: N.S. and the St. Lawr. and Gt. Lakes basins (exc. L. Superior) throughout the forest belt of the Middle West, s. to w. Tex. and centr. Tenn., s. on the mts. to Ga. Not a valuable timber tree. SPANISH OAK (Quercus falcata) is important for its good tan bark. Leaves long and narrow, with 5-7 deep, narrow, scythe-shaped lobes, gray downy beneath. Acorn only ½ in. long, half buried in its cup. Gulf States and up the Mississippi to s. Ind., around the coast to N. J.

SWAMP SPANISH OAK (Quercus palustris)

Bark dark brown with gray patches, scored with shallow, short, vertical furrows. Branches horizontal and finally somewhat drooping. Twigs numerous, slender. Leaves 3-5 in. long, paler beneath and tufted in the axils of the veins with fine hairs. Autumn foliage a rich cardinal red. Range: Chiefly lowlands of the Ohio Valley sw. to Okla. and Kans., ne. through Pa. to Del., s. N. Y. and the lower Connecticut valley. A fine tree reaching 100 ft. tall. PIN OAK (Quercus coccinea) differs in having its leaves truncate at base, and its acorn cup hemispherical instead of saucer-shaped. Foliage brilliant cardinal red in autumn. S. Me. to Fla., w. to Tex. and Ia. YELLOW OAK (Quercus ellipsoidalis) is very similar to Swamp Spanish Oak; the bark is smooth and gray, the stature small; cup gray; leaves yellowish brown in Fall. S. Mich. to Man. and Ia.

BLACK OAK (Quercus velutina)

Trunk massive. Bark deep gray or sepia (the inner bark bright orange yellow) very rough and thick, broken into short, thick, corky, cross scored ridges. Twigs reddish mottled with gray, stout. Leaves dull whitish olive beneath, turning dull brownish or orange or red in autumn. Range: s. and w. N. E. to w. Ont. and Minn., s. to n. Fla., e. Tex., and e. Kans. One of the finest and largest of all our oaks, 50-160 ft. tall. The bark is rich in tannin and the yellow dye, quercitron is derived from the inner bark. CALIFORNIA BLACK OAK (Quercus Kelloggii) differs in having downy winter-buds and leaves without tufts in the axils of the veins. Acorn only ½-¾ in. long. A very fine, wide-spreading, ornamental tree. Ore. to Calif. It may reach 100 ft. high, and has a broadly round topped head.

WATER OAK (Quercus nigra)

Shape, with a conical head; 30-80 ft. tall. Bark smooth above but on old trunks brownish gray, rough ridged. Leaves shining on both sides, but paler beneath, with hair tufts in the axils of the veins, often evergreen. Range: Swamps and bottomlands, Gulf States n. in the Mississippi basin to Ky., around the coast to Del. BLACK JACK OAK (Quercus marilandica) is a small, slim-stemmed tree with rough black bark and thick, short, contorted branches; the leaves are broad, thick, lustrous olive green above, rusty hairy beneath, wedge-shaped at base, very broad near the tip by reason of the big obtuse lobes, middle lobe just a wedge-shaped point. Acorn small, globular, half covered by the thick scaled cup. Foliage yellow russet in fall. A characteristic rather stunted tree of uplands. S. States and Mississippi Valley and s. Gt. Lakes region and up the coast to Long Island.

BROAD LEAVED CUCUMBER TREE (Magnolia acuminata)

Shape oblong, 50-90 ft. tall. Bark grayish brown, broken into small thin scales, the ridges narrow and braiding. Buds silky. Leaves on the undersides paler and slightly downy; 6-10 in. long. Flowers about 2 in. long, tulip-shaped, slightly fragrant, blooming in late May. Range: Chiefly the Appalachians, w. to s. Ill. and Ark., n. to w. N. Y., and n. shore of L. Erie, s. to s. Ala. This handsome tree is chiefly valued as an ornamental but the wood is used occasionally where tensile strength is not required. BROAD LEAVED UMBRELLA TREE (Magnolia tripetala) has thin leaves 18-20 in. long, clustered at the ends of the stout greenish brown twigs, making an umbrella-like effect. Flowers creamy, ill-smelling, appearing in May. A small tree with smooth gray bark with blister-spots. N. C. to Ark. and especially along the Appalachians from Ala. to Pa.

EVERGREEN MAGNOLIA (Magnolia grandiflora)

Shape broadly pyramidal, symmetrical; to 90 ft. tall. Trunk short, thick. Bark brown-gray, finally rough with short thin scales. Buds large, silky. Leaves evergreen, leathery, glittering above, rusty downy beneath. Flowers 6-8 in. across, water-lily-like, fragrant with waxy petals that fall one by one. Range: Low grounds near the coast from se. N. C. to Tex. and up the Mississippi to Ark. Not centr. and s. Fla. This beautiful ornamental tree is cultivated far beyond its range in the wild. The flowers bloom from April to June in the South, in midsummer in the North. SWEET BAY MAGNOLIA (Magnolia virginiana) is a small straggling tree, very similar, but the leaves much smaller and thinner, with dense white down beneath; flowers also smaller. Gulf and S. Atlantic states, n. in swamps near the sea to Magnolia, Mass.

TULIP TREE (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Shape with a small pyramidal head; up to 190 ft. tall. Trunk straight and often massive (to 10 ft. thick) sometimes clean of branches for 100 ft. Bark brownish gray with short, deep vertical furrows and rounded ridges. Branches slender, curved, the lower drooping; twigs erect, shining brown, many bearing the flowers like candelabra. Leaves turning rich gold or russet in autumn. Flowers 3-4 in. across, blooming in May and June. Range: Southern States (exc. Tex., Okla. and s. Fla.) to s. parts of Wis., Mich., Vt. Also n. centr. Mass. and n. shore of L. Erie. By lumbermen called “Yellow Poplar” on account of its restless leaves and yellow wood, this lively tree is probably the most valuable American timber tree (aside from the Conifers) and certainly the tallest in the eastern States. The wood is light, soft, but not readily shrinking or splitting, used for boat building, shingles and boxes.