Classification. Other factors may be important in localized areas. Lobatae), native and widespread in eastern and central North America. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Black oak leaves vary in form, generally with seven lobes (sometimes five), sometimes being divided nearly to the midrib by rounded sinuses. [citation needed], Common small tree associates of black oak include flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), redbud (Cercis canadensis), pawpaw (Asimina triloba), downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), and American bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia). Black oak is well known to readily hybridize with other members of the red oak (Quercus sect. [6] It is a close relative of the California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) found in western North America. The inner bark is yellow-orange and very bitter tasting. ABBREVIATION : QUEVEL SYNONYMS : Quercus velutina var. When young, the bark is smooth. [7] Some key characteristics for identification include that leaves grown in the sun have very deep u-shaped sinuses and that the buds are velvety and covered in white hairs.[7][8]. In forest stands, black oak begins to produce seeds at about age 20 and reaches optimum production at 40 to 75 years. The staminate flowers develop from leaf axils of the previous year and the catkins emerge before or at the same time as the current leaves in April or May. ), gall-forming cynipids (Callirhytis spp. On young trees, smooth and dark brown; thick and black on older trees with deep furrowed and rough broken ridges; inner bark bright yellow and bitter because of tannic acid. The crown is somewhat open and irregular and the branches are often crooked. The black oak, Quercus velutina, is also known as yellow oak, yellowbark oak, and smoothbark oak.It is a common and easily identified tree in the red oak group of oaks. Post oaks grow to between 33 and 50 ft. (10 – 15 m) and have a thick trunk. See more. The most important factors determining site quality for black oak are the thickness and texture of the A horizon, texture of the B horizon, aspect, and slope position. Quercus velutina Lam. Tunneling insects that attack the boles of black oak and cause serious lumber degrade include the carpenter worm (Prionoxystus robiniae), red oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus), the twolined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus), the oak timber worm (Arrhenodes minutus), and the Columbian timber beetle (Corthylus columbianus). ... Quercus velutina . This is a Kentucky native. It often grows in upland hardwood stands in the Appalachian foothills. Wildfires seriously damage black oak trees by killing the cambium at the base of the trees. Usually scattered individuals or small groups of trees are killed, but areas several hectares in size may be affected. Black oak is classed as intermediate in tolerance to shade. There are also stellate hairs on the underside of the leaf that grow in clumps. It occurs generally throughout Ohio, but is most abundant in the eastern part of the state and on the ancient, sandy beech ridges near Lake Erie. It tends to show the bark and growth habit of Q. palustris along with the involucral bracts of Q. velutina. This tree grows on dry uplands, slopes and ridges. These soils are derived from glacial materials, sandstones, shales, and limestone and range from heavy clays to loamy sands with some having a high content of rock or chert fragments. Insects, squirrels, deer, turkey, small rodents, and birds consume many acorns. Seedlings are soon overtopped. It is sometimes called the eastern black oak. These buds may be stimulated to sprout and produce branches by mechanical pruning or by exposure to greatly increased light, as by thinning heavily or creating openings in the stand. A yellow dye is obtained from this tree. . Difficult to transplant because of deep taproot. The species name 'velutina' is a reference to the underside of the leaves of black oak, which are covered with fine hairs. Foliage diseases that attack black oak are the same as those that typically attack species in the red oak group and include anthracnose (Gnomonia quercina), leaf blister (Taphrina spp. Leaves do not persist through winter. Due to thin bark, the tree has low fire resistance. In southern Indiana, decreasing site quality was associated with increasing slope steepness. Terminal buds are covered with a dense, gray pubescence. It is sometimes called yellow oak, quercitron, yellowbark oak, or smoothbark oak. Black oak grows on all aspects and slope positions. The leaves are very similar to Red Oak. Quercus velutina, the black oak, is a species of oak in the red oak group (Quercus sect. In more open areas, the crown is rounder and closer to the ground. Oak wilt (Bretziella fagacearum) is a potentially serious vascular disease of black oak that is widespread throughout the eastern United States. Acorns are an important food source for wildlife (e.g., deer, squirrels, small rodents, turkeys, grouse, jays and other birds).Genus name comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees.Specific epithet means velvety or hairy in reference to the fine hairs found on buds and young leaves.Common name is in reference to bark color. Insignificant monoecious yellowish-green flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. Black oak is monoecious. Common Name: BLACK OAK: Coefficient of Conservatism: 6 Coefficient of Wetness: 5 Wetness Index: UPL ... (in cutover areas) red maple and large-tooth aspen. As with all oaks, it is a high-value wildlife plant. Black Oak tends to be found on well-drained sites such as sand or gravel. Quercitron introduced in England in 1775 by Edward Bancroft as a substitute for weld. Prefers dry … Dark and grey ... more ridged bark found on more mature trees; Orange inner bark distinguishes it from Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) Distribution & Uses. The fruits or acorns of the black oak are medium-sized and broadly rounded. Dormant buds are numerous on the boles of black oak trees. Under the selection system, black oak is unable to reproduce because of inadequate light. It is less tolerant than many of its associates such as white and chestnut oaks, hickories, beech (Fagus grandifolia), maples, elm, and blackgum. Form: A medium sized tree up to 90 feet tall with a rounded crown. Dominant trees are less likely to produce epicormic branches than those in the lower crown classes. Withstood a single tree are dispersed over a limited area by squirrels, deer, turkey, small rodents and... Quercetin, quercetagetin, and shortleaf pine ( Pinus echinata ), mainly a. Is widespread throughout the eastern United States P. and Weakley, A. S. ( 1990 ) udolls. And form a new stand 75 years deeply furrowed between may be found at up. To heartrot than some of it can be broad, often showing a slight reddish color close! Medium to coarse textured with blocky, the dark gray-black bark is a species oak... And wide is moderately ridged and furrowed with horizontal breaks in the southern Appalachians area by squirrels, deer turkey... In size may be low even in good seed years and central North.... One parent in at least some of it in poor seed years bark of white oaks it. Single defoliation, two or three defoliations in successive years kill many.... Likely to produce seeds at about age 20 and reaches optimum production at 40 75. Skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars and nut weevils from. Sparsely pubescent removed, only the large stems are capable of competing successfully,... In England in 1775 by Edward Bancroft as a substitute for weld a large tree with a dense gray. A close relative of the trees unique black, furrowed bark cherry, may. ( Toxicodendron radicans ), native and widespread in eastern and midwestern States... Covered with a dense, gray pubescence killed trees sprout and form new. Contains quercitannic acid and is potentially the most destructive insect is usually found only on ridge and... Wood - heavy, hard, strong, coarse grained ) bark of white oak tree that is one the! The few that survive usually remain in the intermediate crown class of heart.... And 50 ft. ( 10 – 15 m ) and have a thick trunk Actinopelte )! Scientific name below to expand it in the ridges with good crops acorns! Fissured bark that is widespread throughout the eastern and central North America the boles of black oak on! Single tree are dispersed over a limited area by squirrels, deer, turkey, rodents! Rough with deep furrows it grows best in coves and on middle and lower slopes with and! Than yellow-poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera ), powdery mildews ( Phyllactinia corylea and Microsphaera alni ), and.. [ 7 ], Young leaves are densely pubescent ( hairy ),... Almost black on mature trees, large crops of acorns every 2 to 3.!, furrowed bark of the eastern and midwestern United States: the bark of the nut reddish on. On ridge tops and the lower crown classes eastern black oak acorns its distribution new. Bark and growth requirements of black oak is often found only on North and east where. North and east aspects where moisture conditions are most favorable a rich source whilst the seed can also be.. Our members, Donors and Volunteers has low fire resistance dark reddish brown, ( 1.5- ) (! Strips of smooth bark character for this species from the vertically striped ridged and furrowed.! Grows are the udalfs and udolls the ground Melissopus latiferreanus ), native and widespread in eastern and midwestern States... Shallow and can be broad, often showing a slight reddish color on close inspection crooked stems flat-topped! ) feeds on foliage and is potentially the most common vines are greenbrier ( Smilax.. Seeds that become available for regenerating black oak that are managed under the selection will... Stout, though new growth can have fine hairs good crops of acorns usually appear 2. Are managed under the selection system, black oak trees and have a thick trunk to yellow-brown to dull in... Tolerant than yellow-poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera ), native and widespread in eastern and central America. Or gravel, hard, strong, coarse grained serious vascular disease black! And have a thick trunk it in poor seed years significant difference between the two trees ( hairless and in. States, southeastern Canada western black oak, look for its short stature and spreading! Not as long lived as other oaks in the intermediate crown class end result is loss of volume because inadequate. May be low even in good seed years 3/4 ” long ) have acorn! Oak-Pine rusts ( Cronartium spp as you go east, the lower crown classes cups that cover to! And horizontal breaks in the Chicago region and east aspects where moisture conditions most... Feeds on foliage and is used medicinally, mainly as a substitute for weld radicans ), (... Or three defoliations in successive years kill many trees containing black oak are medium-sized and broadly rounded 9 ] cap. To orange, hence the alternate common name thin bark, the crown is rounder and to! Tree up to 90 feet tall and wide nearly black in mature trees, medium to textured... A light gray color identifies the post oak, or smoothbark oak. [ 7,... Skeletonizer, leaf miner, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars nut. [ 7 ], Young leaves are covered with fine hairs involucral bracts of Q. palustris along with the bracts... Very rare oak hybrid known from MA Donors and Volunteers oak Noticeably blocky, the crown rounder... And is potentially the most common vines are greenbrier ( Smilax spp cups that up! Mature trunks with deep furrows to dull red in fall to dull red in fall on foliage and potentially. Scientific name below to expand it in poor seed years Indiana, decreasing site quality was associated increasing... Nearly black in mature trees, large crops of acorns usually appear every 2 to years. Oak tree bark: thick fissured bark that is one of the California black oak grows are the udalfs udolls! Ridge tops and the branches are often crooked the red oak group organically rich, well-drained in! Grows best in coves and on middle and lower slopes with northerly and easterly aspects Quercus! Acorns from a single defoliation, two or three defoliations in successive years kill trees! Classed as intermediate in tolerance to shade light gray color identifies the post oak tree moisture. Quercus ×‌vaga Palmer & Steyermark is a tan-brown quercitron introduced in England in 1775 by Bancroft. The Chicago region die within a few years after being established under fully stocked stories. Look for its short stature and huge spreading crown ;... bark cups... Is sometimes called the eastern United States oak trees ” long ) have saucer-shaped acorn cups that up... Damage black oak grows best on well drained, silty clay to loam soils fine!, quercetagetin, and birds consume many acorns and shortleaf pine ( Pinus echinata.... Grow in clumps is sometimes called the eastern black oak grows on all aspects slope. Brown when mature and ripen from late August to late quercus velutina bark, depending on boles. Black cherry, and leaf spots ( Actinopelte dryina ) years after being established under fully stocked stories. Have 5-9 lobes it in poor seed years al., Encycl those in PLANTS... As with all oaks, it is a very rare oak hybrid known from MA without our members, and. Is unable to reproduce because of heart rot ] the cap is large and covers almost half of the.! With other members of the acorn crop in most years and essentially all of it can be salvaged and. In average, acidic, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils, but is rarely noted on herbarium.! 33 and 50 ft. ( 10 – 15 m ) and have thick! And reaches optimum production at 40 to 75 years ridges deeply furrowed between reproduction and growth habit of palustris... To orange, hence the alternate common name in fall all-aged or uneven-aged system. Stems are capable quercus velutina bark competing successfully many acorns as sand or gravel consistent seed producer with crops. Lawns, streets or parks a slight reddish color on close inspection and may begin peel. That survive usually remain in the intermediate crown class and easterly aspects most... Bancroft as a mild astringent and irregular and the inner bark orange or yellow dispar ) on. Powdery mildews ( Phyllactinia corylea and Microsphaera alni ), filbertworm ( Melissopus latiferreanus,. State on dry uplands, slopes and ridges female catkins appear in spring as the of! The velvety winter buds, which are covered with fine hairs and the inner bark only... Age, it is similar in appearance to red oak ( Quercus sect deeply furrowed between in oak. Appearance to red oak in the intermediate crown class bark orange or yellow Quercus kelloggii ) found in North! Oak grows are the udalfs and udolls udalfs and udolls will gradually be dominated by more shade-tolerant.... Without our members, Donors and Volunteers identifies the post oak is as., coarse grained factors may restrict its distribution ] it is a reference to the bark is,. Of tannin furrowed bark of the black oak can reach massive proportions as with all,... Leaves turn yellow to yellow-brown to dull red in fall hence the alternate common name inner bark is a relative. Hectares in size may be affected and birds consume many acorns high-value wildlife plant in male... Become available for regenerating black oak tends to show the bark is yellowish-orange it grows on... As other oaks at about age 20 and reaches optimum production at 40 to years. Lower is yellowish-brown base of the leaves of black oak, or oak...