Tall tree, to 80 feet. Bark dark, deeply ridged. Leaves oblong, widest towards the end, with 7 to 16 pairs of large rounded teeth. Leaves yellowish brown and deciduous in autumn. Flowers are catkins in the spring, often unnoticed. Fruits are acorns, with shallow, bowl-shaped caps.

An important native forest tree; the acorns providing food for a variety of wildlife. Common in Wildwood in drier parts of the forests.

The large, rounded teeth are distinctive. Yellow chestnut oak is similar, but the leaves are narrower and have their widest part near the middle.

More Information