Etymology: Quercus: Latin for oak
Plants: perennial, deciduous tree to 80' tall; dark brown to black, deeply furrowed bark often with ridges broken into uneven blocks, inner bark yellow or orange
Leaves: oval to obovate in outline on a long stalk, unequal base blunt to slightly pointed, edges with 5-9 deep lobes and 15-50 sharp points; underside pale green, upper side shiny, dark green
Flowers: oval to elliptic, terminal buds obviously 5-angled in cross section; blooms in spring
Fruits: acorns biennial, cup- to turban-shaped cup covering 1/2 of the nut; nut roundish to oval
Habitat: dry; slopes, uplands, sandy lowlands, terraces
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Conservation Status: Native

Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 5 USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Trees: Photos, descriptions, information USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc. Virginia Tech Dept. of Forestry, College of Natural Resources: detailed description and photographs