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As its name implies, bluff oak can be found on riverside bluffs
in moist, rich soils. Bluff oak is a shaggy barked tree that
dangles moss and casts shade over riverbanks. It naturally occurs
in the coastal plain from Mississippi, through the Florida panhandle
to the Carolinas. Bluff oak is in the white oak family. It is similar to white oak (Quercus alba) but generally smaller. Bluff oaks have little economic significance, but contribute to species diversity of forested areas and provide valuable wildlife food and nesting sites. White-tailed deer, turkeys, raccoons, and squirrels feed on the large acorns. Historically, bluff oak and white oak were used to manufacture North American ships before steel was used. The wood was also used to make barrels for "beechwood aged" beer. |
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