FLOWERS.—May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender, hoary-tomentose catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate on slender, tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, yellow, downy; corolla 0; stamens 4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas short, recurved, greenish yellow.
FRUIT.—Autumn of second season; acorns on stout peduncles 1/2 inch long; cup cup-shaped, with red-brown, downy scales, inclosing one-third to one-half of the nut; nut subglobose, about 1/2 inch long, dark brown, often striate; kernel very bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid, acute, lustrous, brown.
BARK.—Twigs lustrous, dark green, becoming brown; thick on old trunks, light brown and slightly fissured.
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.—Of rare occurrence in Michigan. Reported in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Washtenaw Counties, Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.—Rich uplands; fertile river-bottoms.
NOTES.—Desirable for ornamental uses. Hardy. Rapid of growth.