Quercus prinus
Habitat:Northern hardwood forests; prefers dry soils.
Characteristics: Trees attain a height of 60-70 feet, though taller trees are sometimes
encountered. The trunks of mature trees are 3-4 feet in diameter; the leaves have either rounded or
sharp teeth and are 4 to 9 inches long. The leaves are dull orange in autumn.
The strong, durable wood of the better-formed trees has the same uses as that of other oaks. The bark is rich in tannic acid, and was once collected for use in tanning leather.
This is
occasionally a very long-lived tree. The famous Washington Oak, an exceptionally large chestnut oak
which grew on the east bank of the Hudson River in New York, is estimated to have been 800 to 1,000
years old.
