Family: Fagaceae, Beech view all from this family
Description Large tree with broad, open, irregular, crown of chestnutlike foliage.
Height: 60-80' (18-24 m).
Diameter: 2-3' (0.6-0.9 m).
Leaves: 4-8" (10-20 cm) long, 2-4" (5-10 cm) wide. Elliptical or obovate, broadest beyond middle, short-pointed at tip; edges wavy with 10-16 rounded teeth on each side; gradually narrowed to base. Shiny green above, dull gray-green and sparsely hairy beneath; turning yellow in fall.
Bark: gray; becoming thick and deeply furrowed into broad or narrow ridges.
Acorns: 3/4-1 1/4" (2-3 cm) long; egg-shaped, 1/3 or more enclosed by deep, thin cup narrowed at base, composed of short, warty, hairy scales not overlapping; becoming brown; short-stalked; maturing first year.
Habitat Sandy, gravelly, and rocky dry upland soils, but reaches greatest size on well-drained lowland sites; often in pure stands on dry rocky ridges.
Range Extreme S. Ontario to SW. Maine, south to Georgia, west to NE. Mississippi, and north to SE. Michigan; at 1500-5000' (457-1524 m).
Discussion Because of its high tannin content, the bark formerly served for tanning leather. The wood is marketed as White Oak. As a shade tree, it is adapted to dry rocky soil.
