Chapter IV: Front Matter (4)

Distinguishing Features: The Loblolly Pine is distinguished by its
stiff, long needles usually in clusters of 3 and by its long
cones. It is similar to Shortleaf Pine but has longer needles and
cones.

WATER ELM
_Planera aquatica_ Gmel.

Other Name: Planer-tree.

Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 10 inches;
crown broadly rounded, with slender branchlets.

Bark: Gray or pale brown, smooth at first but later splitting into large
scales.

Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown to gray, usually smooth; leaf scars
alternate, nearly circular, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Slender, pointed, brownish, smooth or somewhat hairy, up to ¼ inch
long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades lance-ovate, rounded or somewhat
pointed at the tip, tapering to the usually asymmetrical base, up
to 3 inches long, less than half as broad, regularly coarsely
toothed, smooth or a little roughened on the upper surface at
maturity, smooth or hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to ½
inch long, finely hairy.

Flowers: Of three kinds, all on the same tree, appearing after the
leaves have begun to expand, greenish-yellow, without petals, the
staminate in several small clusters, the pistillate and perfect in
drooping clusters of 1-3 flowers.

Fruit: Oblong, fleshy, up to ½ inch long, with warts irregularly
scattered over the surface, pale brown.

Wood: Soft, light in weight, close-grained, pale brown.

Uses: Fence posts, fuel.

Habitat: Swampy areas.

Range: North Carolina across southern Illinois to southeastern Missouri,
south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Water Elm resembles other native elms in
Illinois, but has only single-toothed leaves. The warty fruits are
also distinctive.

SYCAMORE
_Platanus occidentalis_ L.

Other Names: Buttonwood; Plane-tree.

Growth Form: Large tree sometimes more than 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to 8 feet; crown broad, often irregular.

Bark: Reddish-brown when young, quickly breaking into thin, flat scales,
falling away in sections to expose large patches of whitish or
greenish inner bark.

Twigs: Smooth, light brown, somewhat zigzag; leaf scars alternate,
encircling the buds, somewhat elevated, with 5-7 bundle traces.

Buds: Light brown, pointed, about one-fourth inch long, entirely covered
by the base of the leafstalk. When the leaves fall off, exposing
the buds, they leave a scar which surrounds the base of each bud.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades circular in outline but divided into 3
or 5 shallow, sharp-pointed lobes, heart-shaped or cut straight
across at the base, up to 7 inches long (longer on vigorous
shoots) and often as broad, bright green and smooth on the upper
surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface except for the
sparsely hairy veins; leafstalks to 5 inches long, slightly hairy;
stipules, resembling the leaves but only about an inch long, often
persist near the base of the leafstalks.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately but on the
same tree, minute, crowded together in dense, round heads.

Fruit: Round light brown heads, about one inch in diameter, on long
drooping stalks, containing many small seeds surrounded by hairs.

Wood: Hard and strong.

Uses: Furniture, interior finishing. Sometimes planted as an ornamental
because of its rapid growth and unusual bark.

Habitat: Bottomlands, along streams, around lakes and ponds.

Range: Maine across southern Wisconsin to eastern Nebraska, south to
eastern Texas, east to northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The large palmately lobed leaves and the brown
and gray mottled bark readily distinguish this tree.

WHITE POPLAR
_Populus alba_ L.

Other Names: Silver-leaved Poplar; Abele.

Growth Form: Moderate tree to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet;
crown broadly rounded but often irregular.

Bark: Grayish to whitish, at first smooth, later becoming deeply
fissured and very dark gray to nearly black.

Twigs: Greenish-gray, white-hairy at least when young; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, hairy, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually ovate, with a few broad teeth
along the edges, bluntly pointed at the tip, cut straight across
or a little heart-shaped at the base, up to 4 inches long, dark
green on the upper surface, silvery-hairy or white-wooly on the
lower surface; leafstalks up to 3 inches long, densely hairy, not
flat.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, crowded
together in catkins, appearing when the leaves unfold.

Fruit: Often curved, flask-shaped capsules, greenish, hairy, up to ¼
inch long, containing many seeds with cottony hairs attached.

Wood: Light weight, soft.

Use: Grown as an ornamental because of its silvery leaves.

Habitat: Along roads, around old homesteads.

Range: Native of Europe and Asia; frequently planted and escaped from
cultivation in the United States.

Distinguishing Features: The leaves, with their silvery or white-wooly
under-surface and their few broad teeth, provided the best means
of identifying this tree.

COTTONWOOD
_Populus deltoides_ Marsh.

Growth Form: Large rapidly growing tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to eight feet; crown spreading or broadly rounded,
with some drooping branches. The largest tree in Illinois, in
Grundy County, is a Cottonwood measuring twenty-eight feet six
inches in circumference.

Bark: Smooth and gray when young, becoming furrowed at maturity.

Twigs: Yellow-green, gray, or tan, smooth, moderately stout, with
numerous pale “dots”; leaf scars alternate, triangular, with 3
large bundle traces.

Buds: Lance-shaped, long-pointed, up to ½ inch long, sticky,
chestnut-colored.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades to 5 inches long and often nearly as
broad, triangular, abruptly pointed at the tip, cut straight
across or even slightly heart-shaped at the base, with coarse
rounded teeth along the edges, green, smooth, and shiny on the
upper surface, paler on the lower surface; leafstalks to 4 inches
long, smooth, often yellow, flat.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in rather thick, reddish catkins, the pistillate crowded
in narrower, greenish-yellow catkins, both sexes appearing before
the leaves begin to unfold.

Fruit: Elliptic, greenish-brown capsules up to ¼ inch long, grouped in
elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony hairs
attached.

Wood: Light weight, soft, readily warping.

Uses: Pulpwood, fuel.

Habitat: Bottomland woods, along streams.

Range: New Hampshire across to southeastern North Dakota, south central
Texas, east to northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Cottonwood is easily recognized by its
triangular leaves with flattened leafstalks. The cottony seeds,
when the fruits are mature, are also distinctive.

BIG-TOOTH ASPEN
_Populus grandidentata_ Michx.

Other Name: Large-tooth Aspen.

Growth Form: Medium tree to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 1½ feet;
crown rounded.

Bark: Grayish-green, smooth at first, becoming shallowly fissured and
broken up into thin scales.

Twigs: Grayish-green, with numerous orange “dots,” hairy when young but
becoming smooth; leaf scars alternate, raised, 3-lobed, each with
3 bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, chestnut-brown, somewhat hairy, up to one-eighth
inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades nearly circular in outline,
short-pointed at the tip, rounded at the base, up to 5 inches
long, nearly as broad, with several rather coarse teeth along the
edges, green on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface,
smooth when mature; leafstalks up to 3 inches long, flat, enabling
the leaf to rustle even in gentle breezes.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, crowded
together in catkins up to 5 inches long, appearing as the leaves
unfold.

Fruit: Long, narrow, flask-shaped, green, slightly hairy capsules,
grouped in elongated clusters, containing many seeds with cottony
hairs attached.

Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.

Use: Pulpwood.

Habitat: Wooded slopes, edges of woods.

Range: Quebec across to Manitoba, south to central Illinois, east to
Maryland; Kentucky and north-central Tennessee east to western
North Carolina.

Distinguishing Features: The coarsely toothed, tremoring leaves and the
grayish-green trunks combine to make this a tree easy to
recognize.

SWAMP COTTONWOOD
_Populus heterophylla_ L.

Other Name: Swamp Poplar.

Growth Form: Up to 90 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet; crown very
irregular, with a few, large, upright branches.

Bark: Gray or brown, smooth when young, becoming scaly ridged at
maturity.

Twigs: Rather stout, smooth or hairy, reddish; leaf scars alternate,
3-lobed, each with 3 bundle traces; pith 5-angled.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, dark brown, sticky, up to one-half inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, rounded or bluntly pointed at
the tip, heart-shaped at the base, up to 8 inches long, up to 6
inches broad, with rounded teeth along the edges, green on the
upper surface, paler on the lower surface, densely white-woolly
when young, becoming essentially smooth at maturity; leafstalks to
4 inches long, smooth or sparsely hairy, not flattened.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in thick catkins up to 4 inches long, the pistillate in
slender catkins up to 6 inches long, both appearing before the
leaves begin to unfold.

Fruit: Ovoid, reddish-brown capsules up to ½ inch long, grouped in
elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony hairs
attached.

Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.

Uses: Pulpwood, fuel, interior finishing.

Habitat: Swamps, low woods.

Range: Connecticut to southern Michigan, southwestward across southern
Illinois to central Louisiana, east to northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The broad, heart-shaped, toothed leaves readily
distinguish the Swamp Cottonwood from other trees in Illinois.

QUAKING ASPEN
_Populus tremuloides_ Michx.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 50 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown rounded or occasionally spreading.

Bark: Pale yellow-green or white, becoming grayish and divided into dark
scaly ridges at maturity.

Twigs: Pale yellow-green or white, slender, smooth; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Lance-shaped, short-pointed, smooth, sticky, up to ⅓ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate to nearly round, short-pointed
at the apex, rounded at the base, up to 4 inches long, nearly as
broad, with many small round teeth along the edges, green, smooth,
and shiny on the upper surface, not shiny on the lower surface;
leafstalks to 3 inches long, smooth, flat. The flat leafstalks
allow for the leaves to tremor at the slightest wind.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne on separate trees, the staminate
crowded in catkins up to 4 inches long, the pistillate crowded in
catkins up to 6 inches long.

Fruit: Narrow, flask-shaped, green capsules up to ¼ inch long, grouped
in elongated clusters, containing numerous seeds with cottony
hairs attached.

Wood: Light weight, soft, pale brown.

Use: Pulpwood.

Habitat: Edge of woods, thickets.

Range: Newfoundland to Alaska, south to California and New Mexico and
Texas, east across Missouri and Tennessee to New Jersey.

Distinguishing Features: The whitish trunk and the ovate, trembling
leaves serve to distinguish this species.

WILD PLUM
_Prunus americana_ Marsh.

Other Name: American Plum.

Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown broad, often irregular.

Bark: Dark gray to brown, rough and scaly.

Twigs: Slender, brown, speckled with many dots, smooth or hairy; leaf
scars alternate, half-round, elevated, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, reddish-brown, smooth or hairy, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to ovate, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 4 inches long and less than
half as broad, finely toothed along the edges, the teeth not
glandular, green and smooth or hairy on the upper surface, paler
and smooth or hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up
to 1 inch long, sometimes with 1 or 2 glands near the upper end,
smooth or hairy.

Flowers: Showy, several in a cluster, up to 1 inch across, with 5 white
or pinkish petals, appearing before or as the leaves begin to
unfold.

Fruit: Spherical or nearly so, up to 1 inch in diameter, red or covered
with a whitish wax, juicy, sweet, 1-seeded.

Wood: Hard, close-grained, brown.

Uses: The fruits are used in making jelly and preserves.

Habitat: Woods, thickets.

Range: Southern Ontario to Manitoba, south to New Mexico, east to
Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Wild Plum differs from other plums in
Illinois by the absence of glands on the teeth of the leaves. The
Wild Plum may have either smooth or hairy leaves and twigs.

WILD GOOSE PLUM
_Prunus hortulana_ Bailey

Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches;
crown broad and rounded.

Bark: Gray or brown, becoming scaly at maturity.

Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate, half-round,
elevated, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, rounded at the tip, reddish-brown, smooth, up to ¼ inch
long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong to oval, pointed at the tip,
rounded or tapering to the base, up to 6 inches long and about ⅓
as broad, finely toothed along the edge, the teeth gland-tipped,
green and usually smooth on the upper surface, paler and sometimes
hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1 inch long,
with 1-several glands, smooth or sparsely hairy.

Flowers: Showy, several in a cluster, up to 1 inch across, with 5 white
petals, appearing after the leaves are partly grown.

Fruit: Spherical or nearly so, up to 1 inch in diameter, red or rarely
yellowish, fleshy but hard, bitter, 1-seeded.

Wood: Hard, close-grained, brown.

Habitat: Edges of woods, thickets.

Range: Indiana to Iowa, south to Oklahoma, east to Alabama.

Distinguishing Features: Wild Goose Plum flowers when its leaves are
partly grown, thereby distinguishing it from the Wild Plum which
blooms before or as the leaves begin to unfold.

OTHER WILD PLUMS

Two other wild plums are occasionally encountered in Illinois.

Munson’s Wild Plum (_Prunus munsoniana_ Wight & Hedrick). Munson’s Wild Plum is a small tree rarely more than 15 feet tall and often forming thickets. It has gray or brown scaly bark, smooth brownish twigs, and small, ovoid buds. The leaves are oval and up to 6 inches long and up to 2 inches wide. The edges of the leaves are finely toothed, with each tooth gland-tipped. The upper surface of the leaf is smooth, while the lower surface usually has some hairs. The showy white flowers appear while the leaves are developing. The fruits are spherical or slightly oblong red plums with sweet, juicy flesh. Munson’s Wild Plum is found only in the midwestern states.

Narrow-leaved Plum (_Prunus angustifolia_ Marsh.). Also known as Chickasaw Plum, this is a small tree up to about 15 feet tall, usually forming thickets. The smooth, brownish twigs usually have several sharp spines. Most of the leaves are lance-shaped and up to 2 inches long, and conspicuously folded lengthwise. The flowers begin to bloom just as the leaves start to unfold. The red, nearly spherical plum has tart, juicy flesh. The Narrow-leaved Plum is found mostly in the southeastern United States.

WILD BLACK CHERRY
_Prunus serotina_ Ehrh.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown rounded, with rigid branches.

Bark: Thin, smooth, reddish-brown at first, becoming deeply furrowed and
black.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, dark brown; leaf scars half-round, each with 3
bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, sharp-pointed, dark brown, smooth, up to one-fourth inch
long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong or oval, short-pointed at the
tip, tapering to the base, up to 6 inches long and about ⅓ as
broad, finely toothed along the edges, green, smooth, and shiny on
the upper surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface except
for rusty hairs along the veins; leafstalks slender, slightly less
than 1 inch long, smooth, with 1 or more reddish glands near the
tip.

Flowers: Crowded in showy, drooping, elongated clusters up to 6 inches
long, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, each flower
about ¼ inch across, with 5 white petals.

Fruit: Fleshy, juicy, spherical, dark purple, up to ½ inch in diameter.

Wood: Light weight, hard, strong, close-grained, light reddish-brown.

Uses: Cabinets, interior finishing.

Habitat: Roadsides, fencerows, edge of woods.

Range: Nova Scotia across to Ontario, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Wild Black Cherry is similar to the Choke
Cherry but usually is a larger tree with thicker leaves and with
the teeth tending to curve inward.

CHOKE CHERRY
_Prunus virginiana_ L.

Growth Form: Small tree to 20 feet tall, often only a shrub; trunk
diameter up to 5 inches; crown irregular.

Bark: Thin, smooth and reddish-brown at first, becoming furrowed and
darkened.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown with pale lenticels; leaf scars
alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, brown, more or less smooth, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oblong or oval, short-pointed at the
tip, tapering to the base, up to 4 inches long and about half as
broad, finely and sharply toothed along the edges, green, smooth
and shiny on the upper surface, paler and smooth or with a few
hairs on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1 inch long,
smooth, with 2 glands near the tip.

Flowers: Crowded in showy, drooping, elongated clusters up to 6 inches
long, appearing when the leaves are partly grown, each flower up
to ½ inch across, with 5 white petals.

Fruit: Fleshy, juicy, spherical, up to ⅓ inch in diameter, red at first,
becoming deep purple at maturity.

Wood: Heavy, hard, not strong, close-grained, pale-brown.

Uses: Fuel, some interior finishing.

Habitat: Woods, along streams.

Range: Newfoundland across to Saskatchewan, south to Kansas, east to
North Carolina.

Distinguishing Features: Choke Cherry resembles Wild Black Cherry,
differing by its more pointed teeth along the edges of the leaves.

WAFER ASH
_Ptelea trifoliata_ L.

Other Name: Hop-tree.

Growth Form: Small tree or shrub up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 5 inches; crown rounded.

Bark: Brown, somewhat roughened.

Twigs: Slender, dark brown, often with small “warts”; leaf scars
alternate, large, horseshoe-shaped, slightly elevated, with 3
bundle traces.

Buds: Spherical, pale brown, hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, divided into 3 leaflets; leaflets mostly ovate,
long-pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, up to 5
inches long, up to half as wide, smooth or with fine teeth along
the edges, dark green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and
smooth on the lower surface; leaflets without individual stalks.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate flowers borne separately but usually
in the same cluster, appearing in late May and June, with 3-5
obscure, greenish-white petals.

Fruit: Thin, flat, nearly spherical winged seed up to 1 inch across.

Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, yellow-brown.

Use: The fruit at one time was used as a substitute for hops in brewing.

Habitat: Rocky, wooded slopes.

Range: Quebec across Michigan to Iowa, south to eastern Texas, east to
Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Wafer Ash is distinguished by its 3-parted
alternate leaves and its flat, spherical, winged seeds.

WHITE OAK
_Quercus alba_ L.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown very broad, with stiff, horizontal branches; trunk
relatively short and rather thick.

Bark: Gray or whitish with gray patches, shallowly furrowed.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, somewhat shiny, gray, whitish, or even purplish;
pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but
crowded near the tip of the twig, half-round, slightly elevated,
with several bundle traces.

Buds: Nearly round, reddish-brown or gray, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually with 7 or 9 lobes, the lobes
rounded and not bristle-tipped, the sinuses varying from shallow
to deep, the upper surface green and smooth, the lower surface
paler and smooth, up to 10 inches long, up to half as wide,
turning red in the autumn; leafstalks up to 1 inch long, rather
stout, smooth. Leaves on the same tree may vary considerably.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate many in drooping, yellow catkins, the
pistillate few in a group, red.

Fruit: Acorns borne 1 or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
oblong, up to ¾ inch long, green to greenish-brown, shiny, the cup
covering up to ¼ of the nut, yellow-brown, often minutely hairy.

Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, durable, coarse-grained, pale brown.

Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, general construction, fence posts,
fuel, tight cooperage.

Habitat: Moist woods; wooded slopes; dry woods.

Range: Maine across to Minnesota, south to eastern Texas, east to
northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: White Oak is recognized by its grayish bark and
its 5-7 round-lobed, smooth leaves which are usually whitish on
the lower surface. Its oblong, greenish-brown, shiny acorns are
also distinctive.

SWAMP WHITE OAK
_Quercus bicolor_ Willd.

Growth Form: Medium tree to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3 feet;
crown rounded and broad.

Bark: Grayish-brown, deeply furrowed, becoming flaky.

Twigs: Stout, grayish-brown to yellowish-brown; leaf scars alternate,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces; pith
star-shaped in cross-section.

Buds: Clustered at the tips of the twigs, ellipsoid to spherical, up to
⅛ inch long, yellow-brown, smooth or with a few hairs at the tip.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades usually broadest above the middle, up
to 6 inches long and 4 inches broad, coarsely round-toothed or
sometimes with a few shallow lobes, smooth or somewhat hairy on
the upper surface, white and softly hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks nearly an inch long, smooth or slightly hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 2-4.

Fruit: Acorns in pairs, on stalks 1 inch long or longer, the nut ovoid,
pale brown, 1-1½ inches long, enclosed about ⅓ its length by the
cup, the cup thick, light brown, hairy, roughened.

Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, pale brown.

Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, fuel, fence posts.

Habitat: Bottomland woods.

Range: Maine and southern Quebec across to southern Minnesota, south to
Oklahoma, east to Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: The Swamp White Oak is distinguished by its
leaves which are coarsely round-toothed and softly white hairy on
the lower surface of the leaves.

SCARLET OAK
_Quercus coccinea_ Muench.

Growth Form: Medium tree to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½ feet;
crown narrow but open.

Bark: Reddish-brown, shallowly fissured when mature.

Twigs: Slender, brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate, but crowded near
the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.

Buds: Pointed, reddish-brown, hairy at the tip, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided more than half-way to the
middle into 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes, bright green, shiny and
smooth on the upper surface, paler and with tufts of hairs along
the veins on the lower surface, up to 6½ inches long and 4 inches
broad; leafstalks up to 2½ inches long, slender, usually smooth.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1 or 2.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or paired, with or without stalks, the nut oval
or hemispherical, up to ¾ inch across, reddish-brown with
occasional darker rings around it, enclosed up to ½ its length by
the cup, the cup thin, top-shaped, reddish-brown, finely hairy.

Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, pale brown.

Uses: Fuel, fence posts, coarse construction.

Habitat: Dry woods.

Range: Maine to southern Ontario, south to Oklahoma, east to Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: Scarlet Oak looks very much like Pin Oak, but
differs in habitat and structure of the acorn cup. It sometimes
resembles Black Oak but has shorter, less hairy buds and acorns
without loosely arranged scales on the cup.

HILL’S OAK
_Quercus ellipsoidalis_ E. J. Hill

Other Name: Northern Pin Oak.

Growth Form: Moderate tree to about 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2
feet; crown rounded, with the drooping lowermost branches often
reaching nearly to the ground.

Bark: Gray-black, rather smooth to shallowly fissured.

Twigs: Rather slender, smooth at maturity, grayish-brown to
reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars
alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig, half-round,
slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Nearly smooth, one-fourth inch long, ovoid, reddish-brown.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades 3-9 inches long, slightly tapering or
usually cut nearly straight across at the base, with 2-4 pairs of
bristle-tipped lobes usually cut over half-way to the mid-vein,
deep green and shiny on the upper surface at maturity; leafstalks
smooth, up to 3 inches long.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on same tree, appearing as the leaves
unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin, the
pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.

Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on very short stalks;
acorns longer than broad, short-pointed at the base, about ½ inch
across, the cup bowl-shaped covering ⅓ to ½ of the acorn.

Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, pale brown.

Uses: Shingles and interior finishings.

Habitat: Dry upland woods, often where Black Oak occurs.

Range: Northwestern Ohio and central Michigan to southeastern Minnesota,
south to eastern Iowa and north-central Illinois.

Distinguishing Features: The elongated acorn of the Hill’s Oak
distinguishes it from pin oak, which it closely resembles.

SPANISH OAK
_Quercus falcata_ Michx.

Other Name: Southern Red Oak.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4 feet;
crown broadly rounded, with stiff, stout, spreading branchlets;
trunk straight, rather stout.

Bark: Dark brown to nearly black, shallowly furrowed.

Twigs: Reddish-brown to gray, smooth or nearly so at maturity; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered
near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, chestnut-brown, hairy, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades broadly rounded at the base, 3- to
5-lobed, the terminal lobe usually long, narrow, and strongly
curved, all lobes bristle-tipped, up to 8 inches long, up to 6
inches wide, green on the upper surface, pale and densely
soft-hairy on the lower surface; leaf stalk up to 2½ inches long,
slender, usually hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping, densely hairy catkins,
the pistillate few in a rusty-hairy cluster, with dark red
stigmas.

Fruit: Acorn usually solitary, with or without a short stalk, the nut
spherical or ellipsoid, up to ½ inch long, orange-brown, the cup
covering only up to ⅓ of the nut, with hairy, reddish-brown
scales.

Wood: Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.

Uses: Fence posts, fuel, general construction.

Habitat: Dry and usually poor upland soil; occasionally in bottomlands.

Range: Central New Jersey south to central Florida, across to eastern
Texas, up the Mississippi Basin to central Missouri, south-central
Illinois, southeastern Indiana, western Kentucky, and western
Tennessee.

Distinguishing Features: The Spanish Oak is the only bristle-tipped oak
in Illinois in which the lower leaf surface is covered with a mat
of fine hairs.

SHINGLE OAK
_Quercus imbricaria_ Michx.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown rounded or oblong, with many branches; trunk straight,
columnar.

Bark: Dark brown, deeply furrowed between flat, tight plates.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-sections; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip of
the twigs, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, brown, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades without lobes or teeth, lanceolate to
oblong, with a bristle tip, narrowed to the base, up to 6 inches
long, up to 2 inches wide, dark green, smooth and shiny on the
upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up
to ½ inch long, stout, hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a cluster.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, stalked, the nut nearly spherical,
dark brown, less than half enclosed by the cup, the cup
reddish-brown and slightly hairy.

Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, light reddish-brown.

Uses: Shingles, general construction.

Habitat: Moist soil along streams or in woods; occasionally on dry,
exposed sandstone cliffs.

Range: New Jersey across to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska, south to
Kansas, east to Arkansas and South Carolina.

Distinguishing Features: Only the Shingle Oak and the Willow Oak, among
all the oaks, have leaves without any teeth or lobes. The Shingle
Oak generally has broader leaves than does the Willow Oak. The
Shingle Oak can be told from Magnolias by its star-shaped pith and
the formation of acorns.

OVERCUP OAK
_Quercus lyrata_ Walt.

Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 3 feet; crown rounded to oblong, with several branches, the
lowermost often drooping; trunk straight, columnar.

Bark: Gray or grayish-brown, divided into flat, sometimes squarish,
plates.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, buff-colored; pith star-shaped in cross-section;
leaf scars alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Nearly round, smooth, pale brown, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided into 5-7 rounded lobes, the
sinuses shallow to deep, up to 10 inches long, up to 4½ inches
broad, dark green and smooth on the upper surface, pale and softly
hairy to nearly smooth on the lower surface; leafstalk up to 1
inch long, smooth or hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
plant, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a group.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
nearly spherical, up to 1 inch in diameter, pale brown, often
nearly entirely enclosed by the cup, the cup finely hairy, with
some of the scales forming a ragged rim near the base.

Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, dark brown.

Uses: Interior finishing, cabinets, fuel, fence posts.

Habitat: Bottomland woods; swamps.

Range: Southern Virginia across to eastern Texas, north up the
Mississippi Valley to southern Missouri, southern Illinois, and
southern Indiana; also in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey;
southward to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The best identifying characteristic of this
plant is the acorn in which the nut often is nearly enclosed by
the cup.

BUR OAK
_Quercus macrocarpa_ Michx.

Other Name: Mossy-cup Oak.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 120 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5
feet; crown rounded, with stout branches; trunk straight, stout,
sometimes slightly buttressed at the base.

Bark: Dark brown or yellow-brown, rather deeply furrowed.

Twigs: Stout, dark brown, often with corky ridges; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the tip,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Rounded or slightly pointed at the tip, yellowish-brown to
reddish-brown, finely hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades broader at the upper end, coarsely
round-toothed, usually with a pair of deep sinuses just below the
middle, often with as many as 5-7 lobes, the lobes not
bristle-tipped, dark green and smooth or slightly hairy on the
upper surface, paler and softly hairy on the lower surface, up to
14 inches long and 7 inches wide; leaf stalks up to 1 inch long,
stout, smooth or finely hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few in a group, with red stigmas.

Fruit: Acorn usually solitary, with or without a stalk, the nut ovoid to
ellipsoid, dark brown, up to 1¾ inches long, the cup covering half
to nearly all the nut, hairy, the lowermost scales long-fringed.

Wood: Heavy, hard, durable, close-grained, brown.

Uses: Cabinets, ship-building, fenceposts, fuel, tight cooperage.

Habitat: Dry ridges to bottomland woods.

Range: Vermont across to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to Arkansas,
Tennessee, and Maryland.

Distinguishing Features: The leaves of the Bur Oak are distinctive
because they are very broad in the upper half with a pair of deep
sinuses a little below the middle. The large, fringed cups are
also distinctive.

BLACKJACK OAK
_Quercus marilandica_ Muench.

Other Name: Scrub Oak.

Growth Form: Relatively small tree, at most attaining a height of 50
feet, usually much shorter and often very gnarled; trunk diameter
up to 1½ feet; crown exceedingly round-topped, with numerous lower
branches hanging downward.

Bark: Dark brown, shallowly ridged.

Twigs: Moderately stout, brown, more or less hairy; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the top,
half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Angular, from ¼-½ inch long, somewhat hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades about 4-8 inches long, leathery, very
much broader near the apex than the base, mostly rounded or even
somewhat heart shaped at the base, more or less 3-lobed and
bristle-tipped nearer the apex, the upper surface hairy at first,
becoming shiny dark green at maturity, the lower surface
permanently hairy; leafstalks less than 1 inch long.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on the same tree, appearing as the
leaves unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin,
the pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.

Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on very short stalks, or
the stalks sometimes lacking; acorns nearly round, usually at most
only ½ inch in diameter, the cup enclosing ½ the acorn, with
rather loosely arranged scales.

Wood: Hard, strong, heavy, dark brown.

Uses: Excellent as a source of charcoal and fuel.

Habitat: Poor soil, particularly on dry, exposed rocky cliffs.

Range: New York across to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
southern Iowa to southeastern Nebraska, south into eastern Kansas,
eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas, then east to northern
Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The 3-lobed leaf, much broader at the apex, is
the most distinctive characteristic of this oak.

SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus michauxii_ Nutt.

Other Names: Basket Oak; Cow Oak.

Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to nearly 100 feet tall; trunk
diameter up to 6 feet; crown rounded.

Bark: Gray or silvery-white, scaly.

Twigs: Stout, reddish-brown to gray, smooth or nearly so; leaf scars
alternate but crowded near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated,
with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.

Buds: Pointed, finely hairy, reddish-brown, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades obovate, pointed at the tip, rounded
or tapering to the base, up to 10 inches long and 6 inches broad,
coarsely scalloped along the edges, thick, green and sparsely
hairy on the upper surface, whitish and densely hairy on the lower
surface; leafstalk up to 1½ inches long, hairy.

Flowers: Borne separately but on the same tree, minute, without petals,
the staminate crowded into long, slender catkins, the pistillate
few in a cluster.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or paired, with or without short stalks, the nut
ovoid to ellipsoid, brown, up to 1½ inches long, enclosed about ⅓
its length by the cup, the cup thick, cup-shaped, hairy,
short-fringed along the rim.

Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, close-grained, pale brown.

Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts.

Habitat: Low woods.

Range: New Jersey across to southern Missouri, south to Texas, east to
Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Swamp Chestnut Oak is distinguished from
other coarsely toothed oaks by the densely hairy, whitish lower
leaf surfaces and its short-stalked acorns.

YELLOW CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus muhlenbergii_ Engelm.

Other Names: Chinquapin; Chinquapin Oak.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown oblong or rounded, with many branches; trunk straight,
columnar, buttressed at the base.

Bark: Pale gray, with scaly ridges.

Twigs: Slender, yellow-brown or reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered near the tip,
half-round, with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in
cross-section.

Buds: Pointed, smooth, chestnut-brown, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades narrowly to broadly lanceolate,
pointed at the tip, narrowed or rounded at the base, coarsely
toothed along the edges, smooth and yellow-green on the upper
surface, paler and usually finely hairy on the lower surface, up
to 8 inches long and 5 inches broad; leafstalk up to 1½ inches
long, slender, usually smooth.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, minute, without petals, the staminate crowded into long,
slender catkins, the pistillate few in a group, with red stigmas.

Fruit: Acorns borne in groups of 1 or 2, usually on a short stalk, the
nut ovoid, chestnut-colored, up to ¾ inch long, the cup covering
about ½ the nut, the scales of the cup hairy and usually with a
short fringe.

Wood: Heavy, strong, durable, close-grained.

Uses: Fence posts, fuel, railroad ties.

Habitat: Low rich slopes; wooded hillsides; dry cliffs.

Range: Vermont across to southern Minnesota, south to eastern Nebraska
and eastern Texas, east to northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Yellow Chestnut Oak is distinguished from
the other coarsely toothed oaks by its usually sharper pointed
teeth and by the size and shape of its acorns.

CHERRYBARK OAK
_Quercus pagodaefolia_ Ell.

Other Name: Swamp Spanish Oak.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 4
feet; crown broadly rounded; trunk straight, columnar.

Bark: Dark gray, broken by narrow ridges into small scales.

Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown or gray, usually hairy when young,
becoming smooth; pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars
alternate but clustered near tip of the twigs, half-round,
slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, angular, hairy, chestnut-brown, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided into 5-11 pointed lobes, the
sinuses cut about half-way to the midvein, up to 10 inches long,
up to 7 inches wide, dark green, smooth and shiny on the upper
surface, pale and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 2
inches long, stout, hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
plant, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few together.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a stalk, the nut
ellipsoid, about ½ inch long, brown, enclosed for less than ⅓ its
length by the cup, the cup finely hairy.

Wood: Strong, hard, coarse-grained, light reddish-brown.

Uses: Interior finishing, furniture, cabinets.

Habitat: Bottomlands and river banks.

Range: Southeastern Virginia to southeastern Missouri, south to Texas,
east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The shape of the leaf is distinctive for this
oak.

PIN OAK
_Quercus palustris_ Muench.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter usually less
than 3 feet; crown narrowly rounded or oblong, but with the lower
branches drooping; trunk straight, with pin-like stubs developing
rather low on the trunk.

Bark: Light brown or dark brown, scarcely furrowed.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown to dark gray; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip,
half-round, usually slightly elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Pointed, reddish-brown or dark gray, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades divided more than half-way to the
middle into 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes, dark green, shiny and more
or less smooth on the upper surface, paler and with tufts of hairs
along the veins on the lower surface, up to 7 inches long and 4
inches broad; leafstalk up to 2 inches long, slender, usually
smooth.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1-3.

Fruit: Acorns 1-4 together, with or without stalks, the nut
hemispherical, up to ½ inch across, pale brown, frequently with
darker lines, enclosed less than ¼ by the cup, the cup thin,
saucer-shaped, reddish-brown, finely hairy.

Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, pale brown.

Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts, ornamental.

Habitat: Moist soil; in floodplain woods; along streams; edges of swamps
and ponds.

Range: Massachusetts across to southeastern Iowa, south to northeastern
Oklahoma, east to northern Virginia.

Distinguishing Features: Pin Oak is recognized by its drooping lower
branches and its small acorns.

WILLOW OAK
_Quercus phellos_ L.

Growth Form: Medium tree to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3 feet;
crown narrowly round-topped.

Bark: Reddish-brown, smooth at first, becoming irregularly and shallowly
furrowed with age.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate but crowded near the tip of
the twigs, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.

Buds: Ovoid, pointed, smooth, up to ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades without lobes or teeth, narrowly
lanceolate to narrowly oblong, with a bristle tip, narrowed to the
base, up to 5 inches long, up to 1 inch broad, light green and
smooth on the upper surface, usually smooth and paler on the lower
surface; leafstalks up to ½ inch long, smooth or slightly hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
few in a cluster.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut more or less spherical, pale yellow-brown, enclosed less than
¼ its length by the cup, the cup reddish-brown, finely hairy.

Wood: Heavy, rather soft, strong, coarse-grained, pale reddish-brown.

Use: General construction.

Habitat: Swampy woods.

Range: New York across to southern Illinois and eastern Oklahoma, south
to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: This and the Shingle Oak are the only oaks in
Illinois with unlobed, untoothed leaves. The leaves of the Willow
Oak are usually much narrower than those of the Shingle Oak.

ROCK CHESTNUT OAK
_Quercus prinus_ L.

Other Name: Chestnut Oak.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 55 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2½
feet; crown broad but irregular.

Bark: Dark brown, with conspicuous furrows between the rounded ridges.

Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, smooth or nearly so; leaf scars
alternate, but clustered near the tip of the twig, half-round,
with several bundle traces; pith star-shaped in cross-section.

Buds: Pointed, brown, somewhat hairy, up to ½ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades obovate to broadly lanceolate, pointed
at the tip, narrowed to the base, thick and leathery, coarsely
round-toothed along the edges, smooth, shiny, and yellow-green on
the upper surface, finely hairy over all the lower surface, up to
9 inches long and up to 4 inches broad; leafstalk up to 1 inch
long, smooth or slightly hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, minute, without petals, the staminate crowded into long,
slender catkins, the pistillate few in a group.

Fruit: Acorns borne in groups of 1 or 2, usually on a short stalk, the
nut ovoid to ellipsoid, chestnut-colored, up to 1½ inches long,
the cup covering about ½ the nut or less, the scales of the cup
reddish-brown and warty.

Wood: Hard, heavy, strong, close-grained.

Uses: Fence posts, railroad ties, fuel.

Habitat: Dry, rocky, wooded slopes.

Range: Maine across to southern Illinois, south to Mississippi and
Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: The acorns of the Rock Chestnut Oak are about
twice the size as those of the Yellow Chestnut Oak. The teeth of
the leaves of the Rock Chestnut Oak tend to be more rounded than
the pointed teeth of the Yellow Chestnut Oak.

NORTHERN RED OAK
_Quercus rubra_ L.

Other Name: Red Oak.

Growth Form: Medium to tall tree to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3
feet; crown broadly rounded, with large spreading branches; trunk
straight, columnar, often buttressed at the base.

Bark: Grayish-brown, reddish-brown, blackish, or gray, with dark
stripes.

Twigs: Slender, smooth, reddish-brown; pith star-shaped in
cross-section; leaf scars alternate, but clustered near the tip of
the twig, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.

Buds: Pointed, smooth, reddish-brown, shiny, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades rather shallowly 7- to 11-lobed, the
lobes bristle-tipped, dark green and smooth or somewhat hairy on
the upper surface, paler and smooth or often with hairs along the
veins on the lower surface, up to 10 inches long, up to 6 inches
broad; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, stout, usually smooth.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing as the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping catkins, the pistillate
in groups of 1-3.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without stalks, the nut
ovoid, up to 1½ inches long, pale brown, covered less than ¼ by
the cup, the cup reddish-brown, with tight scales.

Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, light brown.

Uses: Interior finishing, furniture, fuel, fence posts.

Habitat: Rich, upland woods; along river banks; on well-drained slopes.

Range: New Brunswick, across southern Quebec and Ontario, to
northcentral Minnesota, south to eastern Kansas, east across
Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and in the mountains of eastern
Tennessee and northeastern Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: The acorn with its very shallow, saucer-shaped
cap is the best identifying characteristic for the Red Oak. The
leaves are generally more shallowly lobed than those of the Black
Oak, Southern Red Oak, and Scarlet Oak.

SHUMARD’S OAK
_Quercus shumardii_ Buckl.

Other Names: Southern Red Oak; Schneck’s Oak.

Growth Form: Up to 120 feet tall; trunk up to 5 feet in diameter; crown
broad and open, with wide-spreading branches.

Bark: Firmly ridged and dark brownish-black.

Twigs: Generally stouter than those of the Red Oak, smooth; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate, but clustered
near the tip of the twig, half-round, slightly elevated, with
several bundle traces.

Buds: Smooth, red-brown, about one-third inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades up to 8 inches long, straight across
or somewhat wedge-shaped at the base, with 2-4 pairs of lobes
divided over ⅔’s the way to the mid-nerve, each lobe toothed and
bristle-pointed at the tips, the sinuses broadly rounded, dark
green and shiny above, with white tufts of hair in the vein axils
beneath; leafstalks slender, smooth, up to 2½ inches long.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on the same tree, appearing as the
leaves unfold, inconspicuous, the staminate crowded in a catkin,
the pistillate solitary or 2-3 together.

Fruit: Ripening in October of the second year, on stalks less than ¼
inch long, usually produced singly; acorns broadly egg-shaped,
short-pointed at the base and flat at the top, up to 1¼ inches
long and about ¾ as broad, light brown; cup shallow, about ¼-⅓
covering the acorn, with closely appressed, densely short-woolly
scales.

Wood: Light, strong, durable; not distinguished commercially from Red
Oak.

Uses: Interior finishing and furniture.

Habitat: Bottomland woods and stream banks.

Range: Most abundant in the Mississippi basin, but known from Florida
and Texas, north to Maryland, Pennsylvania, eastcentral Kentucky,
Indiana, central Illinois, the eastern half of Iowa, and
southeastern Kansas. The largest known Shumard’s Oak in the
country occurs at Beall Woods in Wabash County, Illinois.

Distinguishing Features: Deeply lobed, shiny leaves with broadly rounded
sinuses.

POST OAK
_Quercus stellata_ Wang.

Growth Form: Small to medium tree up to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up
to 3 feet; crown rounded or obovoid, with rather stout branches;
trunk gnarled or straight, usually not buttressed.

Bark: Gray or light brown, divided into flat, sometimes squarish,
plates.

Twigs: Stout, brownish, covered when young by a tawny-colored fuzziness;
pith star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but
densely clustered toward the tip, half-round, usually slightly
elevated, with several bundle traces.

Buds: Spherical but often short-pointed, reddish-brown, up to ⅛ inch
long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades thick, 5-lobed, the upper three lobes
squarish, separated from the lowest pair of lobes by a deep sinus,
up to 6 inches long, up to 4½ inches wide, dark green and hairy on
the upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface;
leafstalks up to 1 inch long, stout, hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, yellow, drooping catkins, the
pistillate few in a cluster.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut oval to oblong, up to 1 inch long, pale brown, less than half
enclosed by the cup, the cup reddish-brown, hairy.

Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, brown.

Uses: Fence posts, fuel, general construction.

Habitat: Dry woods; dry bluffs.

Range: Massachusetts across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The 3 squarish lobes at the upper end of the
thick leaves distinguish the Post Oak.

BLACK OAK
_Quercus velutina_ Lam.

Other Name: Yellow-bark Oak.

Growth Form: Large tree up to 80 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 3½
feet; crown broadly rounded or oblong, with spreading branches;
trunk straight, columnar, scarcely buttressed at the base.

Bark: Black, with a yellow or orange inner bark, deeply furrowed.

Twigs: Slender or rather stout, reddish-brown to dark brown; pith
star-shaped in cross-section; leaf scars alternate but clustered
near the tip, half-round, slightly elevated, with several bundle
traces.

Buds: Pointed, angular, gray or reddish-brown, hairy, up to ½ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades deeply to shallowly 7- to 9-lobed, the
lobes bristle-tipped, dark green, shiny and usually smooth on the
upper surface, smooth, finely hairy, or hairy only along the veins
on the lower surface, up to 10 inches long and 8 inches wide; leaf
stalk up to 5 inches long, stout, smooth or finely hairy.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate borne separately, but on the same
tree, appearing when the leaves begin to unfold, minute, without
petals, the staminate in slender, drooping clusters, the
pistillate in groups of 1-4.

Fruit: Acorns solitary or 2 together, with or without a short stalk, the
nut ovoid or ellipsoid, up to ¾ inch long, reddish-brown, not more
than ½ enclosed by the cup, the cup with scales not appressed at
the tip, thus appearing ragged.

Wood: Hard, heavy, coarse-grained, reddish-brown.

Uses: General construction, fuel, fence posts.

Habitat: Mostly upland woods.

Range: Maine across to south-central Minnesota, south to eastern Texas,
east to northern Florida.

Distinguishing Features: Black Oak is easily distinguished by its large,
angular, gray-hairy buds and its acorns with their ragged-edged
cup.

CAROLINA BUCKTHORN
_Rhamnus caroliniana_ Walt.

Growth Form: Small tree to 30 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches;
crown spreading.

Bark: Gray, somewhat roughened.

Twigs: Slender, gray or pale brown, smooth or somewhat hairy; leaf scars
alternate, crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Lance-shaped, pointed, up to ¼ inch long, very hairy.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic, short-pointed at the tip,
tapering or somewhat rounded at the base, up to 6 inches long, up
to 2 inches broad, finely toothed or toothless along the edges,
dark green, smooth, and glossy on the upper surface, paler and
smooth or finely hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks finely
hairy, up to 1 inch long.

Flowers: Few in umbrella-like clusters, inconspicuous, appearing when
the leaves are nearly grown, each flower with 5 small petals.

Fruit: Spherical berries, up to ⅓ inch in diameter, red and shiny,
containing 2-4 seeds.

Wood: Hard, light in weight, close-grained, light brown.

Use: Fuel.

Habitat: Rocky woods and along streams.

Range: Virginia across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Carolina Buckthorn is distinguished by its
shiny, elliptical leaves, its red berries, and its small stature.

COMMON BUCKTHORN
_Rhamnus cathartica_ L.

Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall, often branching from near the
base; trunk diameter up to 10 inches; crown spreading and
irregular.

Bark: Gray to brown, roughened when mature.

Twigs: Gray to brown, usually smooth, some of them usually ending in a
spine; leaf scars opposite to nearly so, narrow, with 3 bundle
traces.

Buds: Lanceolate, brown, smooth, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Broadly elliptic to ovate to nearly orbicular, rounded to
pointed at the tip, usually rounded at the base, up to 2½ inches
long and up to 1½ inches wide, finely toothed along the edges,
smooth on both surfaces, the veins prominent; leafstalks slender,
smooth, up to 1 inch long.

Flowers: Borne in clusters from the axils of the leaves, during May and
June, some of them either only staminate or only pistillate, some
of them with both stamens and pistils, each flower with 4 small
petals.

Fruit: Nearly round, fleshy, black, up to ¼ inch in diameter, bitter,
containing 3 or 4 seeds.

Wood: Heavy, hard, durable, yellowish, fine-grained.

Uses: This tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental hedge. The wood is
used in making such things as tool handles. The fruits serve as a
powerful purging agent.

Habitat: Thickets.

Range: Native of Europe and Asia; naturalized throughout much of
northeastern North America.

Distinguishing Features: The spine-tipped twigs, nearly opposite leaves,
and small black fruits readily distinguish this species.

SHINING SUMAC
_Rhus copallina_ L.

Other Names: Dwarf Sumac; Winged Sumac.

Growth Form: Small tree to 35 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches;
crown widely spreading.

Bark: Dark brown, roughened.

Twigs: Rather stout, gray-brown to reddish-brown, sometimes hairy, with
conspicuous red lenticels; leaf scars alternate, U-shaped,
elevated with 6-9 bundle traces.

Buds: More or less rounded, rusty-hairy, about ⅛ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, with as many as 21 leaflets;
leaflets oblong to elliptic, up to 3 inches long and 1 inch broad,
sharp pointed at the apex, tapering or rounded at the sometimes
asymmetrical base, smooth or with low teeth along the edges, dark
green, smooth and shiny on the upper surface, paler and hairy on
the lower surface, all leaflets attached to a winged stalk. The
leaves turn a deep red or wine color in the autumn.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate sometimes borne on separate plants,
sometimes on the same plant, sometimes in the same flower,
numerous in much branched clusters, appearing from late May to
mid-August, each flower greenish-yellow, small.

Fruit: Cluster of red berries, each berry round, finely hairy, up to ⅛
inch in diameter, containing a single orange seed.

Wood: Light in weight, soft, coarse-grained, pale brown.

Use: Sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Habitat: Dry hills, fields.

Range: Maine across southern Michigan to eastern Nebraska, south to
Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Shining Sumac is readily distinguished by
the winged stalk to which the leaflets are attached.

SMOOTH SUMAC
_Rhus glabra_ L.

Growth Form: Small tree up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8
inches; crown widely spreading.

Bark: Light brown, smooth on young plants, becoming somewhat rough at
maturity.