Red Oak, Quercus rubra

Of the hundreds of species of oak, 10, including the red oak, grow in Canada. It is a common resident of the Deciduous Forest Region and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Acadian Forest Regions. Shape, size and other aspects of the red oak vary with its location, but the tree is usually 60 to 80 feet in height and one to three feet in diameter. Under ideal growing conditions, heights of over 100 feet and diameters of over four feet can be attained. The wood is used extensively for flooring, interior finishing and furniture. The red oak is popular in Europe as an ornamental tree. The new 30-cent stamp featuring the red oak reminds us of the many benefits provided by trees and of the need to protect them, especially from man-made hazards such as fire. To be precise, the number of forest fires per year increased steadily from 1919 to 1939 but dropped sharply during World War II, when gasoline rationing reduced tourist traffic. Forest fires are so ferociously powerful that at times even the surrounding air seems to burn. A single blaze, caused by someone's negligence, could devastate thousands of square miles. The red oak definitive, also designed by Heather Cooper of Toronto, features an accurate rendition of the foliage of the tree which conveys the colour and beauty of the subject. The Latin designation for the species appears in the plate block inscription.