Michigan Trees Part 26

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

6. Fruit, 1.]

+f.a.gACEAE+

+Red Oak+

_Quercus rubra L._

HABIT.--A large tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; forming a broad, rounded crown of a few large, wide-spreading branches and slender branchlets.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, 4-6 inches broad; oval to obovate; 5-11-lobed with coa.r.s.e-toothed, bristle-tipped lobes tapering from broad bases and wide, oblique, rounded sinuses; thin and firm; dull dark green above, paler beneath; petioles stout, 1-2 inches long.

FLOWERS.--April-May, when the leaves are half grown; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 4-5 inches long; the pistillate on short, glabrous peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, greenish; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spreading, bright green.

FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup shallow, saucer-shaped, inclosing only the base of the nut; scales closely appressed, more or less glossy, p.u.b.erulous, bright red-brown; nut oblong-ovoid with a broad base, about 1 inch long, red-brown; kernel white, very bitter.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, light brown, smooth.

BARK.--Twigs l.u.s.trous, green, becoming reddish, finally dark brown; young trunks smooth, gray-brown; old trunks darker, shallowly fissured into thin, firm, broad ridges; inner bark light red, not bitter.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coa.r.s.e-grained, light red-brown, with thin, darker colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Southern portion of Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon County.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich, moist loam; glacial drift; stream-banks. Grows well in all well-drained soils.

NOTES.--Grows rapidly. A good street tree.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Pin Oak+

1. Winter twig, 3.

2. Leaf, 1/2.

3. Flowering branchlet, 1/2.

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

6. Fruit, 1.]

+f.a.gACEAE+

+Pin Oak+

_Quercus pal.u.s.tris Muench._

HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; forming an oblong or pyramidal crown of many upright, spreading branches, the lowermost drooping nearly to the ground.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 2-4 inches broad; obovate to ovate; 5-7-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes few-toothed, bristle-tipped; thin and firm; very l.u.s.trous, dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender.

FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 2-4 inches long; the pistillate tomentose, borne on short, tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas recurved, bright red.

FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup saucer-shaped with scales closely appressed, dark red-brown, inclosing only the base of the nut; nut nearly hemi-spherical, about 1/2 inch in diameter, light brown; kernel bitter.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid or conical, acute, light brown, smooth.

BARK.--Twigs dark red and tomentose at first, becoming l.u.s.trous, green, finally gray-brown; thick, gray-brown and smoothish on the trunk.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coa.r.s.e-grained, light brown, with thin, darker colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers moist, rich soil; river-bottoms; borders of swamps.

NOTES.--Grows rapidly and uniformly. Easily transplanted. The tiny branchlets at a distance give the impression of the tree being full of pins.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Scarlet Oak+

1. Winter twig, 1.

2. Portion of twig, enlarged.

3. Leaf, 1/2.

4. Flowering branchlet, 1/2.

5. Staminate flower, enlarged.

6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

7. Fruit, 1.]

+f.a.gACEAE+

+Scarlet Oak+

_Quercus coccinea Muench._

HABIT.--A tree 40-50 feet high and 12-15 inches in trunk diameter; long, slender branches form a rather open, rounded crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long and nearly as broad; broadly obovate to oval; 5-9-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes toothed and bristle-tipped; thin and firm; shining, bright green above, paler beneath, both sides glabrous; turning brilliant scarlet in autumn; petioles slender, 1-2 inches long.

FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in glabrous catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate on p.u.b.escent peduncles 1/2 inch long, bright red, p.u.b.escent; calyx 4-5-lobed, reddish, p.u.b.escent; corolla 0; stamens usually 4, with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spreading, bright red.

FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup top-shaped to cup-shaped, with closely imbricated, slightly p.u.b.erulous, red-brown scales, inclosing about one-half of the nut; nut usually short-ovoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, light red-brown; kernel whitish, bitter.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 1/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, acute, dark red-brown, pale-p.u.b.escent above the middle.

BARK.--Twigs at first scurfy-p.u.b.escent, later l.u.s.trous, green, finally smooth, light brown; thick, dark gray or brown on old trunks, shallowly fissured, scaly; inner bark red, not bitter.