Hornbeam. IronwoodHornbeam. Ironwood1. Winter twig, × 1/2.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1/2.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
Hornbeam. Ironwood
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1/2.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1/2.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1/2.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1/2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
HABIT.—A small tree usually 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 8-12 inches; forming a broad, rounded crown of many long, slender branches and a slender, stiff spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, about one-half as broad; oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; thin and very tough; dull, dark green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath; petioles short, slender, pubescent.
FLOWERS.—April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in drooping, cylindrical catkins from wood of the previous season, usually in threes; stamens 3-14, crowded on a hairy torus; the pistillate in erect, lax catkins on the season’s shoots, usually in pairs, each flower inclosed in a hairy, sac-like involucre.
FRUIT.—September; strobiles, resembling clusters of hops, 1-2 inches long, borne on slender, hairy stems; nuts small and flat, inclosed by sac-like involucres.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, red-brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown, and finally dull dark brown; thin, gray-brown on the trunk, very narrowly and longitudinally ridged.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light red-brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the entire state.
HABITAT.—Prefers dry, gravelly slopes and ridges.
NOTES.—Often grows in shade of other trees. Not easily transplanted. Rather slow of growth. Too small for street use.
Blue Beech. Water BeechBlue Beech. Water Beech1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
Blue Beech. Water Beech
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruit, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1/2.
HABIT.—Usually a low, bushy tree or large shrub, 10-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 6-12 inches; trunk short, usually fluted; slender zigzag branches and a fine spray form a close, flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oval, long-pointed; sharply doubly serrate; thin and firm; dull green above, lighter beneath, turning scarlet and orange in autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy.
FLOWERS.—May, after the leaves; monoecious; apetalous; the staminate catkins 1-1-1/2 inches long, their scales greenish, boat-shaped, each bearing 3-20 stamens; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, their scales hairy, greenish, each bearing 2 pistils with long, scarlet styles.
FRUIT.—Ripens in midsummer, but often remains on the tree long after the leaves have fallen; in loose, terminal strobiles; involucre halberd-shaped, inclosing a small, ovate, brownish nut.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, puberulous, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs pale green, hairy, becoming lustrous, dark red the first winter; trunk and large limbs thin, smooth, close, dark bluish gray, often mottled with lighter or darker patches.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, tough, very strong, close-grained, light brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.—Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil along the borders of streams and swamps. Often found in drier situations in the shade of other trees.
NOTES.—Propagated from seed. Not easily transplanted. Slow of growth. Seldom found in masses.
Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry BirchSweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch1. 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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, enlarged.
Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, enlarged.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, enlarged.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, enlarged.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, enlarged.
HABIT.—A medium-sized tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; slender, wide-spreading, pendulous branches, forming a narrow, rounded, open crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate in pairs, simple, 3-4 inches long and one-half as broad; outline variable, ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate, with slender, incurved teeth; dull, dark green above, light yellow-green beneath; petioles short, stout, hairy, deeply grooved above; aromatic.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, yellowish; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, erect or suberect, greenish.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; sessile, glabrous, erect strobiles, 1-1-1/2 inches long and half as thick; scales glabrous; nuts slightly broader than their wings.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, sharp-pointed, red-brown, divergent.
BARK.—Twigs light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown in their first winter; very dark on old trunks, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates. Resembles bark of Black Cherry. Inner bark aromatic, spicy.
WOOD.—Heavy, very hard and strong, close-grained, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Scattered throughout the state; rare in the south, more abundant and of larger size in the north.
HABITAT.—Grows in any situation, but prefers moist, rocky slopes and rich uplands.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Easily transplanted.
Yellow Birch. Gray BirchYellow Birch. Gray Birch1. 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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 10.
Yellow Birch. Gray Birch
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 10.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 10.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 10.
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. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, × 10.
HABIT.—A tree 60-80 feet high and 2-4 feet in trunk diameter; numerous slender, pendulous branches form a broad, open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, solitary or in pairs, simple, 3-5 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; dull dark green above, yellow-green beneath; petioles short, slender, grooved, hairy; slightly aromatic.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, purplish yellow; the pistillate catkins sessile or nearly so, erect, almost 1 inch long, greenish.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; sessile or short-stalked, erect, glabrous strobiles, about 1 inch long and half as thick; scales downy on the back and edges; nut about as broad as the wing.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, acute, chestnut-brown, more or less appressed; bud-scales more or less pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs, branches and young stems smooth, very lustrous, silvery gray or light orange; becoming silvery yellow-gray as the trunk expands and breaking into strips more or less curled at the edges; old trunks becoming gray or blackish, dull, deeply and irregularly fissured into large, thin plates; somewhat aromatic, slightly bitter.
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and hard, close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Throughout the state, but more abundant and of larger size northward.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist uplands, but grows in wet or dry situations.
NOTES.—One of the largest deciduous-leaved trees of Michigan. Easily transplanted, but not desirable as a street tree.
Paper Birch. Canoe Birch. White BirchPaper Birch. Canoe Birch. White Birch1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
Paper Birch. Canoe Birch. White Birch
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruiting branchlet, × 1/2.
8. Fruit, × 3-1/2.
HABIT.—A tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet, forming in youth a compact, pyramidal crown of many slender branches, becoming in old age a long, branchless trunk with a broad, open crown, composed of a few large limbs ascending at an acute angle, with almost horizontal branches and a slender, flexible spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-3 inches long, 1-1/2-2 inches broad; ovate; coarsely, more or less doubly serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, lighter beneath, covered with minute black glands; petioles stout, yellow, glandular, glabrous or pubescent.
FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins clustered or in pairs, 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, brownish; the pistillate catkins about 1-1/2 inches long, slender, erect or spreading, greenish; styles bright red.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; long-stalked, cylindrical, glabrous, drooping strobiles, about 1-1/2 inches long; scales hairy on the margin; nut narrower than its wing.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, flattish, slightly resinous, usually divergent.
BARK.—Twigs dull red, becoming lustrous orange-brown; bark of trunk and large limbs cream-white and lustrous on the outer surface, bright orange on the inner, separating freely into thin, papery layers, becoming furrowed and almost black near the ground.
WOOD.—Light, hard, strong, tough, very close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thick, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Lansing and northward. Common in central Michigan as a small tree. Of larger size in the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist hillsides; borders of streams, lakes and swamps; but is also found in drier situations.
NOTES.—A rapid grower in youth. The bark is used by the Indians and woodsmen for canoes, wigwams, baskets, torches, etc.
Beech. White BeechBeech. White Beech1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Bur, opened, × 1.8. Nut, × 1.
Beech. White Beech
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Bur, opened, × 1.8. Nut, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Bur, opened, × 1.8. Nut, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Portion of twig, enlarged.3. Leaf, × 1.4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.5. Staminate flower, enlarged.6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.7. Bur, opened, × 1.8. Nut, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 3/4.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Bur, opened, × 1.
8. Nut, × 1.
HABIT.—A beautiful tree, rising commonly to a height of 50-75 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; in the forest, tall and slender, with short branches forming a narrow crown, in the open with a short, thick trunk and numerous slender, spreading branches, forming a broad, compact, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, one-half as broad; oblong-ovate, acuminate; coarsely serrate, a vein terminating in each tooth; thin; dark blue-green above, light yellow-green and very lustrous beneath; petioles short, hairy.
FLOWERS.—April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in globose heads 1 inch in diameter, on long, slender, hairy peduncles, yellow-green; calyx campanulate, 4-7-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 8-10; the pistillate on short, hairy peduncles in 2-flowered clusters surrounded by numerous awl-shaped, hairy bracts; calyx urn-shaped, 4-5-lobed; corolla 0; ovary 3-celled; styles 3.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; a prickly bur borne on stout, hairy peduncles, persistent on the branch after the nuts have fallen; nuts usually 3, 3/4 inch long, sharply tetrahedral, brownish; sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Nearly 1 inch long, very slender, cylindrical, gradually taper-pointed, brownish, puberulous.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, olive-green, finally changing through brown to ashy gray; close, smooth, steel-gray on the trunk, often mottled by darker blotches and bands.
WOOD.—Hard, tough, strong, very close-grained, not durable, difficult to season, light or dark red, with thin, whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the northern portions; rare in the Upper Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, rich, well-drained loam, but is found and does well on a great variety of soils.
NOTES.—Hardy throughout its range. Desirable for landscape work because of its clean trunk and limbs, deep shade, and freedom from insect pests. Often suckers from the roots.
ChestnutChestnut1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.7. Nut, × 1/2.
Chestnut
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.7. Nut, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.7. Nut, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.7. Nut, × 1/2.
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Prickly bur, opened, × 1/2.
7. Nut, × 1/2.
HABIT.—A tree 60-80 feet high, forming a short, straight trunk 2-4 feet in diameter, divided not far above the ground into several stout, horizontal limbs and forming a broad, open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed at the apex; coarsely serrate with stout, incurved, glandular teeth; thin; dull yellow-green above, lighter beneath, glabrous; petioles short, stout, puberulous.
FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 6-8 inches long, slender, puberulous, bearing 3-7-flowered cymes of yellow-green flowers; calyx 6-cleft, pubescent; stamens 10-20; the androgynous catkins 2-1/2-5 inches long, puberulous, bearing 2-3 prickly involucres of pistillate flowers near their base; calyx campanulate, 6-lobed; styles 6.
FRUIT.—Ripens in autumn; round, thick, prickly burs, about 2 inches in diameter, containing 1-3 nuts; nuts compressed, brownish, coated with whitish down at the apex; sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, brownish.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, yellow-green, becoming olive-green and finally dark brown; old trunks gray-brown, with shallow fissures and broad, flat ridges.
WOOD.—Light, soft, coarse-grained, weak, easily split, very durable in contact with the soil, red-brown, with very thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—South-eastern Michigan, as far north as St. Clair County. Abundant in eastern Monroe County and Wayne County.
HABITAT.—Pastures; hillsides; glacial drift; well-drained, gravelly or rocky soil.
NOTES.—A rapid grower and living to a great age. Difficult to transplant. Subject to a disease which threatens extermination in this country.
White OakWhite Oak1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
White Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
HABIT.—A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; forming a short, thick trunk with stout, horizontal, far-reaching limbs, more or less gnarled and twisted in old age, and a broad, open crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-9 inches long, about one-half as broad; obovate to oblong; 5-9-lobed, some with broad lobes and shallow sinuses, others with narrow lobes and deep, narrow sinuses, the lobes usually entire; thin and firm; glabrous, bright green above, pale or glaucous beneath; often persistent on the tree through the winter.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short-peduncled, reddish, tomentose; calyx campanulate, 6-8-lobed, yellow, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 6-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup with small, brown-tomentose scales, inclosing one-fourth of the nut; nut oblong-ovoid, rounded at the apex, about 3/4 inch long, light brown; kernel sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid, obtuse; scales smooth, dark red-brown.
BARK.—Twigs at first bright green, tomentose, later reddish, and finally ashy gray; thick, light gray or whitish on old trunks, shallowly fissured into broad, flat ridges.
WOOD.—Very heavy, strong, hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light brown, with thin, light brown sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Rare in the Upper Peninsula, common in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the lower half.
HABITAT.—Grows well in all but very wet soils, in all open exposures.
NOTES.—Slow and even of growth. Difficult to transplant.
Bur OakBur Oak1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/3.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
Bur Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/3.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/3.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/3.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/3.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
HABIT.—A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk 2-4 feet in diameter; great, spreading branches form a broad, rugged crown.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 6-10 inches long and one-half as broad; obovate to oblong, wedge-shaped at the base; crenately lobed, usually cut nearly to the midrib by two opposite sinuses near the middle; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, pale-pubescent beneath; petioles short, stout.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender, hairy catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate sessile or short-stalked, reddish, tomentose; calyx 4-6-lobed, yellow-green, downy; corolla 0; stamens 4-6, with yellow anthers; stigmas bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; very variable in size and shape; cup typically deep, cup-shaped, tomentose, fringed at the rim, inclosing one-third or all of the nut; nut broad-ovoid, 1/2-1-1/2 inches long, brownish, pubescent; kernel white, sweet and edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid or conical, red-brown, pale-pubescent.
BARK.—Twigs yellow-brown, thick-tomentose, becoming ash-gray or brownish; branches with corky ridges; thick and gray-brown on the trunk, deeply furrowed.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very durable, brownish, with thin, pale sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout both peninsulas.
HABITAT.—Prefers rich, moist soil; bottom-lands; but is tolerant of many soils.
NOTES.—Rather slow of growth. Difficult to transplant.
Swamp White Oak. Swamp OakSwamp White Oak. Swamp Oak1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
Swamp White Oak. Swamp Oak
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.2. Leaf, × 1/2.3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.4. Staminate flower, enlarged.5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.6. Fruit, × 1.
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.
HABIT.—A large tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; forming a rather open, rugged crown of tortuous, pendulous branches and short, stiff, bushy spray.
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-7 inches long, 3-5 inches broad; obovate to oblong-obovate; coarsely sinuate-crenate or shallow-lobed; thick and firm; dark green and shining above, whitish and more or less tomentose beneath; petioles stout, about 1/2 inch long.
FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate tomentose, on long, tomentose peduncles, in few-flowered spikes; calyx deeply 5-9-lobed, yellow-green, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 5-8, with yellow anthers; stigmas bright red.
FRUIT.—Autumn of first season; acorns on pubescent stems 1-4 inches long, usually in pairs; cup cup-shaped, with scales somewhat loose (rim often fringed), inclosing one-third of the nut; nut ovoid, light brown, pubescent at the apex, about 1 inch long; kernel white, sweet, edible.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, broadly ovoid to globose, obtuse; scales light brown, pilose above the middle.
BARK.—Twigs at first lustrous, green, becoming red-brown, finally dark brown and separating into large, papery scales which curl back; thick, gray-brown on the trunk, deeply fissured into broad, flat, scaly ridges.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, strong, tough, coarse-grained, light brown, with thin, indistinguishable sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Southern half of Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Prefers moist, rich soil bordering swamps and along streams.
NOTES.—Fairly rapid in growth and reasonably easy to transplant.