White Oak (Quercus alba)

Form

Height 60 to 100 feet, diameter 2 to 3 feet and may become large. Tall and straight in forest; short in the open with wide spreading, broad, rounded crown; numerous heavy limbs spreading irregularly.

Bark

Pale grey, scaly, but not deeply fissured.

Leaf

Alternate; length 5 to 9 inches and about half as broad; crowded towards ends of twigs; deeply divided into 5 to 9 lobes; becoming light green above and much paler below; sometimes remain on tree most of the winter.

Fruit

A light brown acorn maturing the first year; length 3/4 to 1 inch, about 1/4 enclosed in cap; germinates in a few weeks after ripening and sends down a long, deep top root before winter.

Range

Common on the better soils in the southern half of the state.

Wood

Light brown; hard and durable; one of our most useful woods for heavy construction; used for railroad ties, interior finishes, furniture and fuel.