White Oak
Quercus alba · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Oblovate to oblong-obovate with 5 to 9 deeply cut, rounded lobes
Margin
Entire with deeply rounded lobes and sinuses
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twigs
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and branching lateral veins extending into the lobes
Key Features
Deeply lobed leaves with completely rounded lobe tips (lacking the bristle tips found in red oaks), light gray scaly bark, and sweet acorns maturing in a single season
Description
A magnificent deciduous tree known for its grand, spreading crown, grayish flaky bark, and distinctive rounded-lobe leaves that often persist on the branches well into winter
Habitat
Found in upland forests, well-drained soils, ridges, and slopes across a wide variety of acidic or neutral soils in temperate deciduous forests
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from southern Quebec and Maine south to northern Florida and west to eastern Texas