Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Common forest trees of North Carolina

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  • NORTHERN RED OAK (Qwcrcus borcalis maxima Ashe, formerly Q. rubra L.) THE northern red oak occurs throughout the State, but is most common and of best quality in the higher mountains. It is not found in swamps. It usually attains a height of about 70 feet and a diameter ranging from 2 to 3 feet, but is sometimes much larger. The forest-grown tree is tall and straight with a clear trunk and narrow crown. The bark on young stems is smooth, gray to brown, on older trees thick and broken by shallow fissures into regular, flat, smooth - surfaced plates. The leaves are simple, alternate, 5 to 9 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide, broader toward the tip, divided into 7 to 9 lobes, each lobe being somewhat coarsely toothed and bristle-tipped, and firm, dull green above, paler below, often turning a brilliant red after frost. The flowers, as in all the oaks, are of two kinds on the same tree, the male in long, drooping, clustered catkins, opening with the leaves, the female solitary or slightly clustered. The fruit is a large acorn maturing the second year. The nut is from three-fourths to 1% inches long, blunt- topped, flat at base, with only its base enclosed in the very shallow dark-brown cup. The wood is hard, strong, coarse-grained, with light reddish-brown heartwood and thin lighter-colored sapwood. It is used for cooperage, interior finish, construction, furniture, and crossties. Because of its average rapid growth, high-grade wood, and general freedom from insect and fungus attack, it is wPdely planted in the higher portions of the State for timber production and as a shade tree. NORTHERN RED OAK Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, one-half natural size. 41
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).