Tanbark oak, sometimes called simply tan oak, is found only in the mountains of California and southwestern Oregon, being most abundant in the Coast counties, often associated with the Coast redwood. Sometimes 150 ft. high and over 4 ft. in diameter. It bears an acorn like an oak but is not regarded as a true oak by botanists. It is evergreen. The wood is softer than that of the true oaks, but resembles it closely, especially when quarter-sawed. It is not a durable wood. The cutting of this oak for its bark, used in tanning, is an important industry but the logs after peeling are ordinarily left in the woods. The wood has been used with some success for flooring and furniture.

Locations: (explanation)

• 125-5: This sample is cut parallel to the radius and, therefore, exhibits the "quartered" figure, due to the thickness of the wood rays. Some specimens, however, have only narrow rays and, therefore, no such conspicuous figure as this board.
• 125-6: Plain-sawed (tangential grain)