White Oak
Quercus alba · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Obovate to oblong-ovate, deeply lobed with 7 to 9 rounded lobes
Margin
Entire with deeply sinuate margins forming rounded lobes lacking bristle tips
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and branching lateral veins extending into the rounded lobes
Key Features
Rounded leaf lobes lacking bristle tips, light gray flaky bark on mature trunks, and acorns with warty, knobby caps enclosing a quarter to a third of the nut
Description
A classic deciduous hardwood tree that can grow to massive proportions with a wide, spreading crown. Known for its durable wood, light gray scaly bark, and distinctive rounded-lobed leaves that often persist on the tree well into winter through marcescence.
Habitat
Found in upland forests, ridges, and a wide variety of well-drained soils, ranging from dry acidic ridges to moist bottomlands
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from southern Quebec and Maine south to northern Florida and eastern Texas