Bur Oak Leaves

Bur Oak Leaves Quercus macrocarpa Michx.

Characteristics

Leaves: alternate and simple; leaves wider at the top, course and rounded lobes, pair of deep sinuses just past midway, sometimes has 5-7 lobes, tips are rounded, top surface dark green and smooth or somewhat fuzzy, lighter and somewhat fuzzy on the ventral surface, blades grow to 14 inches in length and 7 inches in width; has sturdy, fuzzy or smooth leaf stalks up to 1 inch in length.

Flowers: staminate and pistillate both present but not near each other on the same tree, present as leaves start to open, very small, no petals; staminate flowers are thin, hanging catkins; pistillate flowers are clustered with just a few flowers, have red stigmas.

Fruit: typically solitary acorn, either with or without a stalk present, oval to ellipsoid in shape, dark brown in color, 1 & 3/4 inches in length , cup covers half to almost all of the nut, cup is hairy, scaled with long fringes along the edges.

Twig: thick, dark brown, corky ridges present along the edges; pith is star-shaped when cut in cross-section; alternate leaf scars are bunched near the end of twig, leaf scars are somewhat raised and have a half-moon shape, numerous bundle traces are present.

Buds: tips are either rounded or barely pointed, color varies from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, fuzzy.

Bark: Color ranges from deep brown to yellowish-brown, furrows are deep.

Form: Grows to 120 feet in height with a trunk width of up to 5 ft; rounded crown with sturdy branches; straight trunk, occasionally buttressed a little at the base.

Habitat: Varied habitat, from dry ridges to lowland wooded areas.

Range: As far Northeast from Vermont and West to North Dakota, reaching as far Southwest to Texas and Southeast to Arkansas, Tennessee, and Maryland.

Wood Description and uses: Dense, hard, sturdy, tight-grained, brown in color; used for cabinetry, building ships, posts, & as a fuel source.

Distinguishing Features: leaves are wide at the top, have a pair of large sinuses a just under the middle portion of the leaf, acorn cups are very large and fringed along the edges.

Location: Mattoon, Il.

Sources: Mohlenbrock, Robert. (N.D.). Forest Trees of Illinois. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Contact Information- lstarwalt@cumberland.k12.il.us

Link to Native Trees of Illinois index page