Family: Fagaceae, Beech view all from this family

Description Medium-sized to large tree with open, spreading crown.
Height: 50-80' (15-24 m).
Diameter: 1-2 1/2" (0.3-0.8 m).
Leaves: 4-9" (10-23 cm) long, 3-6" (7.5-15 cm) wide. Elliptical; usually with 7-9 lobes, either shallow or deep and narrow, ending in a few bristle-tipped teeth; slightly thickened. Shiny green above, yellow-green and usually with brown hairs beneath; turning dull red or brown in fall.
Bark: gray and smooth on small trunks; becoming blackish, thick and rough, deeply furrowed into ridges; inner bark yellow or orange, very bitter.
Acorns: 5/8-3/4" (15-19 mm) long; elliptical, 1/2 enclosed by deep thick top-shaped cup narrowed at base, with fringed border of loose rust-brown hairy scales; maturing second year.

Warning Acorns poisonous to animals if eaten. Humans should generally avoid ingesting plants that are toxic to animals.

Habitat Dry upland sandy and rocky ridges and slopes, also on clay hillsides; sometimes in pure stands.

Range Extreme S. Ontario and SW. Maine, south to NW. Florida, west to central Texas, and north to SE. Minnesota; to 5000' (1524 m).

Discussion Easily distinguishable by the yellow or orange inner bark, formerly a source of tannin, of medicine, and of a yellow dye for cloth. Peeled bark was dried, pounded to powder, and the dye sifted out.