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.