QUERCUS SCHNECKII Britton. Schneck's Oak. (× 1/2.)
Specimens from type tree.
12. Quercus Schnéckii Britton. Schneck's Oak. [Plate 51.] Large trees; bark somewhat intermediate between pin and red oak; twigs gray by autumn; winter buds large, about 0.5 cm. long, ovoid, glabrous and gray; leaves on petioles 2-6 cm. long, blades generally 8-18 cm. long, generally truncate at the base, sometimes wedge-shaped, leaves ovate to obovate in outline, divided into 5-7 lobes, by deep rounded and wide sinuses, the sinuses cutting the blade to more than half way to the midrib, except the leaves of lower branches that grow in the shade, the lobes variable in shape and size, usually the lowest are the shortest and smaller, the middle the longest and largest, the lobes are sometimes widest at the base, and sometimes widest at the apex, the end of the lobes are more or less toothed or lobed; the leaves at maturity are bright green, glossy and smooth above, a paler and yellow green and smooth beneath except tufts of hairs in the axils of the principal veins; acorns solitary or in pairs, usually on stalks about 0.5 cm. long; nuts ovoid, sometimes broadly so, or oblong, broad and flat or slightly convex at base, usually 1.5-2 cm. long, enclosed in the cup from 1/4-1/3 their length; cups flat or convex at the base: scales generally pubescent on the back, gray or with a reddish tip on those of the Lower Wabash Valley, or reddish gray and with margins more or less red of trees of the Upper Wabash Valley.
Distribution.—In Indiana this species has been reported only from Wells, Bartholomew, Vermillion, Knox, Gibson and Posey Counties. This species was not separated from our common red oak until after all of the local floras of Indiana had been written, and it may have a much wider range than is at present known. In Wells County it is the prevailing "red oak" of the county, and no doubt is distributed throughout the Wabash Valley. In this area it is associated with all moist ground species. In the lower Wabash Valley, especially in Gibson, Knox and Posey Counties it is associated with Spanish, pin, and shingle oaks, sweet gum, etc. Several trees were noted in Knox County in Little Cypress swamp where it was associated with cypress, pin oak, white elm, red maple and swell-butt ash.
Remarks.—This anomalous red oak has a range from Indiana to Texas. When the attention of authors was directed to it, several new species were the result. Later authors are not agreed as to whether this form, which has such a wide range and hence liable to show considerable variation within such a long range, is one or several species. C. S. Sargent who for years has studied this form throughout its range has seen the author's specimens and calls those with shallow cups typical or nearly typical Quercus Shumardii Buckley[42] and those with the deep cups Quercus Shumardii variety Schneckii (Britton) Sargent.
The writer has made rather an intensive study of the forms in Wells County and in the Lower Wabash Valley and has not been able to satisfy himself that, allowing for a reasonable variation, there is even a varietal difference in Indiana forms. The description has been drawn to cover all of the forms of Indiana.
Dr. J. Schneck of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, was one of the first to discover that this form was not our common red oak, and when he called Dr. Britton's attention to it, Dr. Britton named it Quercus Schneckii in honor of its discoverer.