Eastern White Oak

Quercus alba
White Oak: Full Tree - Click for larger image
  • Family: Fagaceae

  • Widespreading branches and rounded crown

  • Tall tree; height is 24-30m (80-100') or more
Leaves
Twigs & Fruiting Structures
Bark
Distribution and Uses

Leaves

  • Simple and alternate

  • Elliptical shape; 10-23cm (4-9") in length; 5-9 rounded, hairless lobes

  • Sinuses of leaves can be deep, shallow, perpendicular or angled to the midvein; many kinds of sinuses can be found on same leaf

  • Leaves are hairless and have shiny green coloring above, somewhat whitened below

  • Click here for another image of leaves

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 White Oak: Leaves - Click for larger image
White Oak: Buds - Click for larger image

Twigs & Fruiting Structures

  • Twigs reddish-brown, shiny, and hairless

  • Terminal buds reddish-brown, round, blunt, small, not angled, and hairless

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White Oak: Acorns - Click for larger image
  • Egg-shaped acorns

  • 1-3cm (3/8 to 1") in length

  • Distinct, light grey, shallow caps

  • Caps have warty scales with fine hairs; cover approximately 1/3 of nut

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Bark

  • Light grey and broken into scaly, long, and wide plates

Distribution & Uses

  • Inhabits moist, well-drained lands

  • Distribution includes southern parts of Ontario and Quebec, southern Maine to northern Florida, west to the eastern parts of Texas up through eastern Minnesota

  • Wood used for making liquid-holding barrels

  • Sturdy wood used for making ships during colonial days

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 White Oak: Bark - Click for larger image