The _leaves_ are oblong, 3 to 6 inches in length, 1-1/2 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.
+POST OAK+ _Quercus stellata_ Wang.
THE post oak is usually a medium-sized tree, with a rounded crown,
commonly reaching a height of 50 to 80 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2
feet, but sometimes considerably larger. It occurs from Mason County
south to the Ohio River being most common in the "Post Oak Flats." The
soil is a light gray silt loam underlaid by "tight clay."
[Illustration: POST OAK