Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

Form

Reaches 80 to 100 feet in height and 3 to 4 feet in diameter.

Bark

Rarely 1/2 inch thick and broken into thin, loose, pale gray scales.

Leaf

Usually crowded on the end of the slender branches, 4 to 7 inches long; margin with sharp, incurving or broad round teeth. Upper surface is light yellow-green, the underside pale and covered with fine short hairs.

Fruit

The acorns grow singly or in pairs, with short heavy stalks, the nut covered for half its length by the thin cup. Seed is sweet and edible.

Range

Distributed sparsely over southern Wisconsin, extending up to the Rock River above Janesville, up the Wisconsin to Sauk City and up the Mississippi to Lynxville. Reports show that it occurs as far east as southeastern Waukesha County. It grows on limestone ridges, and on fertile bottom lands and rocky stream banks. This tree was once fairly plentiful in several southwestern counties and should be favored where found.

Wood

The wood is similar to white oak and equal to it in quality, although it tends to contain more knots.