Family: Fagaceae, Beech view all from this family

Description Tree with conical or rounded crown of many slender branches ending in very slender, pinlike twigs with willowlike foliage.
Height: 50-80' (15-24 m).
Diameter: 1-2 1/2' (0.3-0.8 m).
Leaves: 2-4 1/2" (5-11 cm) long, 3/8-3/4" (10-19 mm) wide. Narrowly oblong or lance-shaped, with tiny bristle-tip; edges straight or slightly wavy. Light green and slightly shiny above, dull light green and sometimes with fine gray hairs beneath; turning pale yellow in fall.
Bark: dark gray, smooth, and hard; becoming blackish, rough, and fissured into irregular narrow ridges and plates.
Acorns: 3/8-1/2" (10-12 mm) long and broad; nearly round, with shallow saucer-shaped cup; becoming brown; maturing second year.

Habitat Moist alluvial soils of lowlands, chiefly flood plains or bottomlands of streams; sometimes in pure stands.

Range New Jersey south to nw. Florida, west to e. Texas, and north to s. Illinois; to 1000' (305 m).

Discussion A popular street and shade tree with fine-textured foliage, widely planted in Washington, D.C., and southward. Its disadvantage, however, is that is becomes too large to be grown around houses. Readily transplanted because of shallow roots. Easily distinguishable from most other oaks by the narrow leaves without lobes or teeth. While superficially the foliage resembles that of willows, it is recognized as an oak by the acorns and the tiny bristle-tip. City squirrels as well as wildlife consume and spread the acorns.