White Oak
Quercus alba · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Obovate with 7 to 9 deeply rounded lobes and rounded sinuses
Margin
Entire along the lobes, with smooth, rounded edges and no bristles
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, pale yellow-green midrib and secondary veins extending into each lobe
Key Features
Deeply rounded leaf lobes lacking bristly tips, pale whitish undersides of leaves, light grayish bark that is scaly or furrowed in rectangular blocks, and acorns with warty, knobby caps covering about a quarter of the nut.
Description
Quercus alba, the White Oak, is a magnificent and long-lived canopy tree known for its sturdy trunk, spreading crown, and distinctive light gray, scaly bark. The leaves feature deep, rounded lobes without the bristly tips found in red oaks, turning vibrant red and brown in the fall.
Habitat
Found in upland forests, ridges, and well-drained soils, thriving in full sun to partial shade across a variety of soil types
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, stretching from southern Quebec and Maine down to northern Florida and eastern Texas