Swamp Chestnut Oak Quercus michauxii Nutt

Swamp Chestnut OakQuercus michauxii Nutt

By Egypt Crider06/23/10

Elective Science

ClassificationKingdom: Plantae (Plants)Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledon)Order: Fagales (Flowering plants)Family: Fagaceae (Beech Family)Genus: Quercus (Oak)Species: Quercus michauxii (Swamp Chestnut Oak)Also known as Cow Oak because of the acorns eaten

by livestockBasket Oak due to thin strips of wood split from this

tree used to make baskets

Shape, Form and TypeLarge, deciduous

tree About 60 to 80 feet

in height 2 to 3 inches in

diameter. Crown is low and

widely spreading in open areas

More packed in form when in a forest Figure 1: Swamp Chestnut

Oak Shape

BarkFairly similar to that

of white oakAsh gray in colorScaly to the touchBecomes darker

with ageBroken into flakes or

strips Figure 2: Bark

TwigModerately thickSmooth Fuzzy Orange-brown in color

Figure 3: Twig of Swamp Chestnut Oak

LeafThe leaf is simpleArranged alternatelyDark green on top,

fuzzy on undersideWavy toothed

margins4-9 inches in length

Figure 4: Swamp Chestnut Oak Leaves

Buds, Flower, and FruitBuds

Reddish brownClustered at twig ends¼ of an inch in length

FlowerFemales : varies from green to reddish, small in leaf axilsMales: yellow-green catkins , 2 -4 inch hanging

Fruit Acorns either paired or solitary Brown 1 to 1 ½ inches in length Cup is broad based, covers about 1/3 of acorn

Figure 5: Fruit

Figure 6: Swamp Chestnut Oak Flower

Figure 7: Buds

Habitat and RangeNative to wetlands in the southern and

central U.S. Ranges from New Jersey to northern Florida,

Missouri and eastern TexasFound in wet, well-drained, bottomlands and

stream sides

Figure 8: Swamp Chestnut Oak Range

Uses The acorns are eaten by cows, deer, bears,

and squirrelsWheelsBoardsFence postsBaskets FuelConstruction

Figure 9: SCO Fence

References (Text) 2010. Quercus michauxii. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Chestnut_Oak

2010. Quercus michauxii Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=243

1997-2010. Swamp Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/oak-swamp-chestnut.htm

2010. Swamp chestnut oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Swamp_chestnut_oak/swamches.htm

2009. Quercus michauxii Nutt. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/michauxii.htm

2010. SWAMP CHESTNUT OAK. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/doc/fs_qumi.doc

References (Pictures) Figure 1: Swamp Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.freewebs.com/dryadia/Swamp%20Chestnut%20Oak1%20Q.%20michauxii.jpg

Figure 2: Bark. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://web.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/qumi50668.jpg

Figure 3: Twig of Swamp Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/q/qumi--tw15518.htm

Figure 4: Swamp Chestnut Oak Leaves. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/qumi.htm

Figure 5: Fruit. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Swamp_chestnut_oak/quemicrs.jpg

Figure 6: Swamp Chestnut Oak Flower. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10

http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_SB/0512/320/Quercus_michauxii,Flower,I_SB51207.jpg

Figure 7: Buds. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=243

Figure 8: Swamp Chestnut Oak Range. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_michauxii_map.png

Figure 9: SCO Fence. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://www.rammfence.com/shop/images/board_fence_M.jpg