Tree Description:
A medium to large tree that can reach a height of 60 feet and a diameter of 16" to 24", but is usually much smaller. Its stiff, drooping branches form an irregular, dense crown that often contains many persistent dead twigs or branches.
Range/Site Description:
Occurs in East and Central Texas, as far west as Callahan county, on dry or poorly drained, gravelly clays, or sandy upland soils where few other forest trees thrive.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate, 4" to 10" long and 3" to 5" wide, strongly obovate, usually with three main bristle-tipped lobes on the upper half of the leaf, the bottom half narrowing abruptly to the petiole. Leaves are leathery, dark green and glossy on top, lighter and tawny-pubescent below.
Flower:
Separate male and female flowers appear in spring on the same tree. Male flowers borne on a yellowish catkin 2" to 4" long; the less conspicuous female flowers are reddish in color.
Fruit:
An acorn, taking two years to mature, about 0.75" long, yellow-brown and often striped, enclosed for one-half to two-thirds its length in a thick, light-brown cup.
Bark:
Black or dark gray, very rough and breaking into thick, squarish blocks on older trunks.
Wood:
Heavy, hard and strong. It is used for firewood, posts, and is made into charcoal.
Similar Species:
Water oak (Quercus nigra) has similar three-lobed leaves that are less than 4" long.
Interesting Facts:
Several forms of the species with smaller leaves occur in Central Texas on limestone soils and bluffs.
