Florida Forest Trees

Turkey oak  (Quercus laevis)

The turkey oak is one of the characteristic trees associated with the sandhill community over much of Florida. It is abundant and reaches good size on dry sandy ridges, sandy bluffs, and hammocks of the coastal region. This upland tree is commonly found with longleaf pine, bluejack oaks, and post oaks. The common name refers to the shape of the three lobed leaves that resemble a turkey's foot. The Latin species name laevis means smooth and describes the nearly hairless leaves. The turkey oak may be considered a  

Twigs and leaves
weed tree in certain areas of Florida

The wood is heavy, hard, strong, and light brown in color with a light red tint. It has been used for fuel, lumber, and general construction in the past, but today is used mainly for fuel wood and barbecuing.

The acorns of the turkey oak are an important food source for large and small animals in the sandhill community. .

Its range is southeastern Virginia to south Florida, west to Texas, and north to south Arkansas at elevations up to 500'.

 Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:
 Turkey oak is a small tree that reaches 20' to 30' in height and rarely 50' to 60'. It is characterized as having a broad open crown.
Leaves:
 These deciduous leaves are simple and alternately arranged. The shape of each leaf usually has 5 lobes but may vary from 3 to 7. The leaves, with narrow lobes and deep sinuses, resemble a turkey foot. The top of each leaf is a yellow-green and paler below. On the bottom portion of the leaves, rusty-red colored hairs run along the veins. Each leaf possesses a small point at the tip.
Fruit:
 The acorns are usually arranged singly on stalks and are up to 1" long.
Bark:
 The younger trees possess a dark to blackish bark that becomes thick, rough, and deeply furrowed into irregular ridges as the tree matures. The inner bark is red in color.
Habitat:
 Turkey oak grows in dry sandy soils associated with longleaf pine, bluejack oak, and sand post oak.


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Bark
Leaf		  
Fruit


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