File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20315967729).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (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 LXII. RED OAK 1. Flowering branch with iimnatuie leaves, (s) stHiniiiate l.h.ssonis, ()•) i»istlll«t(" l»los8«.ms, (i) immature acorns, x J. 2. A staiiiinate flower, i-nlaryed. ;(. A pistillate flOM-er, enlarged. , . . , 4. Branch with mature leaves, (i) iiniiiatun- acorns, (ir.) mature aconis, x i. .5. Winter twig witli immature acorns, lui'ls, and h'af-sears, x J. r». An immature acorn, enlarged. 7. An acorn cup, x J. 5. An aconi, x J. !>. Section of a twig, enlarged. It). A hud-scale, enlarged. ^ 145 RED OAK Quercus rubra, Linnaeus of^tSf^ witi 1 HI ** To"! I'*** "*' ^^^ Northern States, usually attaining « height nf.J.t^, T; «^ ♦ diameter of 2^ ft. but occasionally reaching a height of 160 ft. with a diameter of 5 feet. When grown in the open has a short trunk and a broad symmetrlSl crown- ^t^ilTlJ'"^^" "^^'T" V"^'^"^ ^^ ^^^ «>«t»nuou« bearing a smiTnrn^ ZZ'. The straight ascending and clean branches of the crown are characteristic. BAEK-On young sterna and branches smooth, gray to brown; on older trunks it is thick, l^ ^ T..^ "*"^ ^^'^^^ ^^^'^ ®«^'» continuous, dark-brown and distinctly flat- i^im ^^' *^^ f^^"" ^ **• '" <»»ameter are often very rough near the base, having SP S* '^*"*®'"ed. BUDB—Alternate, ovoid, 1/6-1/8 of an Inch long, widest part near middle, narrowed up- ward to a sharp point, Ught brown, and free from coolly covering. Bud-scales numerous, over- lapping, a light brown, slightly longltudlnaUy-strlate. with slightly pubescent margins. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, oval to obovato In outline, 6-0 Inches long, 4-6 Inches wide, 7-0 lobed. with sinuses extending half-way to the midrib and separating ascending lobes with entire margin or few bristle-pointed teeth. Mature leaves Arm, dull green, with yellowish to reddish nridrlb above, and pale with a yellowish midrib below. LEAF-SOABS-See "Leaf-Scars" under White Oak, page 188. FLOWEBS—Appear about May when leaves are about i developed. Stamlnate borne In Blender, hairy amenta. 4-6 Inches long, with greenish 4-5 lobed calyx and 4-6 stamens terminated by yellow anthers. Pistillate borne on short stalks; Involucral scales broadly ovate, blunt, pubescent; calyx lobes sharp-pointed; style spreading, recurved, light green. FBUIT—An acorn, maturing at the end of second season, solitary or paired, short-stalked. Nut OTOld. l-li Inches long, flat at base, narrowed at apex. Cup Is velvety on Inside, broad, •Aallow, covering only base of nut. with closely Imbricated, sometimes hairy, reddish-brown scales. Immature acorns usually divergent from twig, with basal scales reaching about J of the way up, and appearln<;: as If arranged in 3 rows. WOOD—Ring-porous; with conspicuous medullary rays; heavy, strong, hard, close-grained, light reddish-brown, with thin lighter colored sapwood. Used for furniture, cooperage, con- strnction, Interior finish of houses, and railroad ties. Weighs 41 lbs. per cubic foot. The wood of Red Oak as well as that of the Black Oak and Scarlet Oak is coming more and more Into use dally. The despised tree« of to-day may be prized to-morrow. OISTDTGUISHINO CHABACTEBISTIOS—The Red Oak may be recognized by Its flat topped ridges of the bark. Its straight clean branches, its large dull green leaves with red midribs and ascending lobes with entire or few bristle-teeth. Its light reddish inner bark. Its glabrous, sharp-pointed, light brown buds which are often constricted at the base, and its large acorns with broad and shallow cups. *AHOB—Nova Scotia to Minnesota and Kansas, south to Florida and Texas, tensively in Europe for ornamental and forestry purposes. Planted ex- DISTBIBVTIOK IN FENNSTLVAKIA—Found throughout the State. At Its optimum in the Cumberland Valley and adjoining lower slopes. Rarer in the northern than in other parts of the State. It is one of the few oaks which occurs in the northern pert of the State. What Is probably the largest Red Oak in Pennsylvania stands In Guldln's Woods In Berks county. It Is 68 inches in diameter at breast-high. HABITAT—Prefers porous sandy or gravelly clay soil. It will not grow In wet soils and Is also intolerant of shade, except when young. IMPOBTAKOE OF THE SPECIES—The Red Oak Is the most rapid growing species of all the Oaks. In one year It has grown to the height of 10 Inches, in 10 years 18 feet, 20 years 38-30 feet, 60 years 60-67 feet. It deserves to be planted and regenerated naturally on an extensive scale. In a single small nursery the Pennsylvania Deiwirtment of Forestry In 1011 raised over 200,000 Red Oak seedlings. A large number are being planted annually in all parts of the State. In Germany it has at present a wider distribution than any other American hardwood species. It is very attractive ornamentally on account of Its smooth bark, straight branches, and the form and autumnal coloration of its leaves. G—ll

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