water oak Fagaceae Quercus nigra

Leaf:Alternate, simple, 2 to 4 inches long and extremely variable in shape (from spatulate to lanceolate), may be 0 to 5 lobed, margins may be entire or bristle-tipped, both surfaces are glabrous, but axillary tufts may be present below.
Flower:Species is monoecious; male flowers borne on catkins; female flowers borne on spikes, appearing with the leaves.
Fruit:Acorns are 1/2 inch long, very dark in color, and 1/3 covered by a flattened cap with appressed scales, maturing in fall of the second year.
Twig:Slender, red-brown; buds short, sharp-pointed, angular, red-brown, multiple at the tip.
Bark:Dark and quite tight, smooth when young and later with irregular rough patches; much later developing wide, scaly ridges.
Form:A medium sized tree with a slender bole and rounded crown with ascending branches.

leaf flower fruit twig bark form map

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