black oak

Quercus velutina

Black oak (Quercus velutina) is an oak native to eastern North America. It is often found in oak-hickory forests, typically on dry soils. It is a medium sized tree, reaching up to 80 feet in height, with a broad, open crown of relatively few branches. Its bark is blackish-gray and deeply furrowed. Its oval-shaped leaves are dark green above and yellow-brown and hairy on their underside. In the fall, its leaves turn yellow, red, and brown. Its fruits are small acorns, with one to three in a bur, each with a shallow bowl-shaped cap. This tree is an important food source for squirrels, foxes, jays, woodpeckers, and other wildlife.