Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Meet The "Shingle Oak" (Quercus imbricaria)

The Shingle Oak - Quercus imbricaria, is a large deciduous tree in the Red Oak Family. It is very similar in appearance to the Willow Oak but with leaves that are half as long, on a stem that is three times as long. It can be found commonly along US Route 50 from just outside of Baltimore heading West through Illinois. It is common in both the lower Ohio and central Mississippi Valley's. It's natural range seems to pick up where the Willow Oak and Laurel Oaks fade out from Arkansas to New Jersey. It is not commonly found in the East with the exception of MD, PA and a small portion of western NJ.

Image Citation: Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org 

With an average height of 65-100 feet it has a very broad crown when mature. One specimen in the New York Botanical Garden reached heights of 115 ft tall and 9 feet in diameter. The bark is light brown in color and scaled in texture. The leaves grow alternately and are 4-6 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. When beginning to bloom the buds are red in color but the leaves are a glossy green during Spring-Summer seasons. In the Fall they become a deep Red above and a Silvery-Grey Red below. The Acorns grow either singularly or double and are rounded and cupped in shape, ripening in the Autumn of each second season.

Meet More Trees:  www.ArundelTreeService.com  or  www.MeetATree.com

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