cow oak
Quercus michauxii Nutt.
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Form & Habitat
swamp chestnut oak form & habitat (late winter) swamp chestnut oak form & habitat (mid-summer) swamp chestnut oak form & habitat (mid-summer)
Leaves
swamp chestnut oak leaves swamp chestnut oak leaves swamp chestnut oak leaves
Twigs
swamp chestnut oak twigs
Bark
swamp chestnut oak bark swamp chestnut oak bark swamp chestnut oak bark swamp chestnut oak bark swamp chestnut oak bark
Flowers
Fruit
swamp chestnut oak fruit (immature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (immature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (immature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (mature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (mature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (mature) swamp chestnut oak fruit (mature)
  • FAMILY:  FAGACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAMES:  basket oak, swamp chestnut oak
  • LEAVES: deciduous, alternate, simple; to ca. 9” long x 6” wide, blades obovate, dark green and glabrous above, dull green to gray-glaucous and pubescent below; lateral leaf veins conspicuous and parallel to each other; blade margins wavy to coarsely ascending-toothed, the tips rounded to obtuse
  • FLOWER:  unisexual, plants monoecious, male flowers in catkins, female flowers inconspicuous, born singly or in short few-flowered axillary spikes
  • FRUIT: large acorn to ca. 1.5” long and 1.2” wide, widest near base, ovoid to ellipsoid in outline; cupule bowl-shaped, embracing 1/3-1/2 of the acorn, scales loose and overlapping, noticeably humped on their backs giving the cupules a knobby texture
  • TWIGS: stout, brown, aging gray; terminal buds 1/4” long, vaguely and bluntly longitudinally angled, pointed, scales brown, their surfaces pubescent with grayish hairs, sometimes apically fringed with hairs
  • BARK: thick, light gray, shaggy, furrowed and broken into long narrow plates that flake off exposing brownish gray inner bark
  • FORM: medium to large tree
  • HABITAT: mesic forests, including ridges in bottomland hardwoods, small steam forest, mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest, and hardwood slope forest
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: In the "Western Gulf Coast Subregion" of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region, this species is Facultative (FAC): Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. In the remainder of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region, this species is Facultative Wetland (FACW): Usually occurs in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands
  • RANGE: southeastern US [USGS Range Map]
  • USES:high quality wood, used for flooring, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, cooperage, veneer, and baskets (wood splits easily into strips, hence the name basket oak)
  • WILDLIFE excellent quality mast; acorns “sweet” enough for humans to eat
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. light gray flaky/platy bark
    2. large unlobed obovate leaf with crenate to coarsely serrate margins
    3. large acorns with deep bowl-shaped cupules
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