Virginia Tech Dendrology

turkey oak Fagaceae Quercus laevis Walter symbol: QULA2
Leaf: Alternate, simple, 3 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes (mostly 3 and 5's), sinuses reach more than half way to midvein, 4 to 8 inches long, shiny green above, may have some brown pubescence below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males hanging, slender catkins, 3 to 5 inches long; females small, either singly or in pairs.
Fruit: Acorn, 1 inch long, brown; cap is thin, reddish brown with fuzzy scales, encloses about 1/3 of nut.
Twig: Moderate to stout, gray to reddish brown, terminal buds are large (3/5 to 5/8 inch long), reddish brown and fuzzy, sharply pointed, lateral buds divergent.
Bark: Fairly thick, very rough with deep furrows and scaly ridges, at first gray-brown but can become nearly black.
Form: Small tree, 20 to 30 feet tall, short trunk, irregular spreading crown.
Looks like: blackjack oak - southern red oak

Additional Range Information: Quercus laevis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information