File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (19879068554).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11penx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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PLATE LVIII. SWAMP WHITE OAK. 1. Flowcriii)? branch with imiiintiiit' Icavos, (s) staniiiiate blossoms, (p) pistillate blossoms, z 1. 2. Branch with luaturo Icavt's and mature long-stalkotl acorns, x I. 3. An acorn, x i. 4. An acorn cup, x J. 5. A winter twig, x J. 6. A winter twij; with bmls, Icnticcls, hal-scius, and pentangular pith, enlarged. 7. Section of winter branch showing dark, iiri<cn, and scaly outer bark, enlarged. 135 SWAMP WHITE OAK. Quercus bicolor, Willdenow. FOBM—An average-sized tree usually attaining a height of 60-70 ft., occasionally attaining a height of 100 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. In the open it develops a broad, open, round- topped crown with the upper branches ascending, the lower often drooping. Scraggy and peeling branches make it rather unattractive. In dense stands the trunk is clean and continuous. BAEK—On young branches reddish-brown, smooth, soon becoming rough and unkempt by peel- ing into long, persistent, dark scales and exposing light inner bark. On old trunks thick, grayish- brown, deeply fissured into long, often continuous, flat ridges which break up into small gray scales. See Fig. 77. TWIGS—Stout, yellowish to reddish-brown, usually smooth, covered with pale raised lenticels; pith star-shaped. BTTDS—Alternate, broadly ovate, obtuse, J-1 of an inch long, covered with light chestnut- brown scales, often slightly hairy towards the apex. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, usually obovate in outline, 5-6 inches long, 2-4 inches wide, rounded at narrowed apex, coarsely dentate on margin, with shallow rounded lobes; upper surface shining dark yellowish-green; lower surface light green and finely hairy. LEAF-SCARS—See "Leaf-Scars" under White Oak, page 132. FLOWERS—Appear about May when leaves are about i developed. Stamlnate flowers occur in hairy aments 4-5 inches long. Pistillate are borne on short-stalks, either solitary or few in a cluster. FRUIT—An acorn, maturing during one season, solitary or few In a cluster, usually borne on a long stalk. Nut oblong, i-lj inches long, chestnut-brown, usually hairy at apex. Cfup deeply saucor-shaped, thick, enclosing J of nut, hairy inside, covered with pale woolly scales which are rather thickened near base, and thin, narrow, often fringed at margin. WOOD—Diffuse-porous; with rather conspicuous medullary rays. It possesses the same physical characteristics as the White Oak, and is sold on the market as White Oak. Weighs 47.75 lbs. per cubic foot. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Swamp White Oak can be distinguished from all other Oaks at any season of the year by the bark on the younger branches which peels off Into thin large plates as in the Buttonwood tree. In summer this species can be recognized by the leaves which have shallow sinuses between the lobes, giving the leaf a broad effect. In fall the long-stalked acorns with their cups enclosing ahont ^ of nut are characteristic In wmter the rather stout, yellowish to reddish-brown twigs bearing buds with light chestnut-brown scales and the irregular, often drooping, growth of the lower lateral branches is peculiar to this species. RANGE—Maine and Quebec to Michigan, south to Georgia and Arkansas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Reported from eight counties In the eastern and south- ern parts of the State, one in the western part, and common in the northwestern. HABITAT—Frequents rich soils on borders of swamps and streams. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The Swamp White Oak is an important tree but its propaga- tion should not be recommended or attempted where the White Oak will grow Its la eral branches have a tendency to persist which reshlts in an inferior grade of lumber. It has no ornamental qualities which especially recommend it for such planting.

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