white oak (Quercus alba)

Quercus: Latin for oak

alba: Latin for "white"

Habitat:

FAC; moist to dry; deciduous woods, savannas, barrens; usually on deep, well-drained soil

Status: Native to Chicago Wilderness; one of the regions characteristic trees; found in

Plant: perennial, deciduous tree to 80'; light grey bark

Flower: blooms in spring

Fruit: 1-3 acorns on very short stalks, cup covers 1/4" of the nut;

Leaf: narrowly elliptic to obovate in outline,

Associates: Allium tricoccum burdickii, Carex blanda, Carex jamesii, Hystrix patula

C-value: 5

Distinguishing charcteristics: Leaves are more eliptical and oboviate than the leaves of the other oaks common in Cw: Q. rubra, Q. velutina, or Q. macrocarpa. Relative to the later species, the leaves of Q. alba do not have the deep sinuses. Additionally, the upper side of the Q. alba leaf is lighter colored ad smoother than related members of the Quercus genus.

Below: A photograph of the unmistakeale Q. alba leaf. SUPPLIER: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

AUTHOR: W.D. Brush, http://content6.eol.org/content/2009/04/21/06/15947_large.jpg