YELLOW CHESTNUT OAK
One-third natural size.
The leaves are oblong, 3 to 6 inches in length, 1½ to 3 inches wide, and equally toothed or notched on the edges, resembling the leaves of the chestnut oak. The fruit, which ripens in the fall of the first season, is light to dark brown when ripe, and edible if roasted. This acorn is from one-half to nearly an inch long, usually less than one inch in diameter, and is set in a shallow cup.
The wood is like that of the white oak, heavy, very hard, tough, strong, durable, and takes an excellent polish. It is used in manufacturing lumber and timbers, crossties, fence posts and fuel. A portion of the lumber no doubt goes into furniture.
The basket oak, or swamp chestnut oak, Quercus prinus L., is found in the woods in southern Illinois. It resembles the white oak in its bark and branches, but has larger acorns. The leaves resemble those of yellow chestnut oak.
The rock chestnut oak, Quercus montana Willd., is an eastern oak that is rare on the hills of Union and Alexander counties.
