Swamp White Oak

(Quercus bicolor)

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

▲▼  young and older mature trees

▲▼  leaves

▲▼ trunk and bark; younger tree above, older tree below

Location on Missouri State University campus:  north of Taylor Health Center; retention basin area at southeast corner of Grand and National

Quercus bicolor: Swamp White Oak

      leaves alternate, deciduous, simple, obovate with shallowly to moderately lobed margins; dark green above and white pubescent below

      stems yellow-brown to reddish-brown when young, bark exfoliating on larger twigs

      bark is gray-brown and scaly, becoming ridged and furrowed with flat ridges on older trees

      grows 50-60' tall and 2/3 to equally wide in oval to rounded or irregular crown shape

      acorns 1" long and shiny brown, enclosed about 1/3 by cap; acorns often in pairs on long stalks

      prefers full sun and moist, high-organic matter, acid soils; tolerates clayey and dry soils; may show chlorosis on higher pH soils

      medium growth rate

      native to southeast Missouri