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| The beech family is contains 9 genera and about 600 species of plants, which are scattered throughout the forests of the world. However, the shrubs and trees of this family are much more abundant in the Northern Hemisphere. Of the 5 genera indigenous to North America, 2 are native to Florida. The most common, or well known genus, Quercus, includes the various oaks that grow in Florida. |
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| Castanea pumila
Chinkapin |
| Habit
The chinkapin is a shrub or small tree, 10-30 feet in height, 6-18 inches
in diameter. In the southeast, it is often shrubby and forms dense
thickets.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 3-5 inches
long, 1.5-2 inches wide, elliptical in shape, with an acute apex.
The leaf base is unequal. Leaf margins are coarsely serrate, with
rigid teeth. Leaves are yellow-green above, pubescent below.
Leaf petioles are short, stout, and flattened.
The twigs are slender, pubescent at first, becoming orange-brown and
glabrous during the first winter. The pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is up to 1 inch thick, reddish-brown, and broken into loose,
plate-like scales.
The chinkapin grows in sandy or rich soils on hillsides and along swamp
borders. It is found from southern Pennsylvania east to New Jersey;
south to north and western Florida, the gulf states, through Arkansas to
Oklahoma and Missouri.
The fruit of this tree is a source of food for many small animals.
The wood is very durable and is used locally for poles, posts, and crossties.
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the USDA Plant Database |
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| Fagus Grandifolia
American beech |
| Habit
The American beech is a medium-sized tree, 60-80 feet in height, 2-3
feet in diameter. In the open it branches close to the ground and
forms a large, open, spreading crown. In the forest, the bole is
clear and straight and supports a small, narrow crown. The root system
is very shallow, and many root suckers grow under the canopy of the mature
parent tree.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 3-5 inches
long, 1-2.5 inches wide, oval to elliptical in shape, with an acute apex.
The leaf base is wedge-shaped. Leaf margins are serrate. Leaves
are dark green above, yellow-green below. Leaves are glabrous above
and below. Leaf petioles are 1/4-1/2 inch long.
The twigs are slender, usually zig-zagging, pale green at first, becoming
yellowish-brown and glabrous at maturity. The pith is homogeneous.
The bark is thin, smooth, steel gray, and showing little or no change
with increased diameter of the bole.
The American beech grows in rich soils on mountain slopes, bottomlands,
and along swamp borders. In the north it is commonly associated with
yellow birch and maple. In the south it is associated with sweetgum,
yellow-poplar, sycamore, and numerous bottomland oaks. It is found
from southern Canada to Wisconsin; south to northern Florida and eastern
Texas.
The American beech produces wood with many uses. With birch and
maple it is used to obtain charcoal, wood alcohol, and acetate of lime.
Limited quantities are also used in the soda process in the manufacture
of paper pulp. It is used in the manufacture of various wood products.
The nuts have a high oil content and are consumed in vast quntities by
small game animals and birds.
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| Quercus alba
white oak |
| Habit
The white oak is a large tree, 80-150 feet in height, 3-5 feet in diameter.
In the forest, it develops a tall, clean, straight trunk with a small crown.
Grown in the open, it has shorter bole and a broad, rugged, spreading crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 5-9 inches
long, 2-4 inches wide, deeply 7-9 lobed, with rounded sinuses nearly reaching
the midrib. The apex is usually 3-lobed. The base is wedge-shaped.
Leaves are bright green and glabrous above, paler below. The leaf
midrib is yellow. Petioles are stout and up to 1 inch in length.
Twigs The twigs are slender to moderately stout, pale at first, becoming gray.
The pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is light gray and variable. At first, it is broken into
scaly rectangles, later becoming thicker and divided into ridges separated
by shallow fissures.
The white oak grows in a variety of habitats. It obtains its largest
sizes on moist, rich soils, usually in association with other species.
It also reaches large sizes on sandy soils and stony ridges.
It is found in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States, excluding
the lower peninsula of Florida and northwestern Minnesota.
The white oak is the most important timber species of the white oaks.
It was widely used for ship building and general construction work.
The acorns of this species is a significant part of the squirrel's diet.
It has been recorded that native Americans found them palatable after prolonged
boiling.
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| Quercus durandii
bluff oak, Durand oak |
 Habit
The bluff oak is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree. The tree may reach 60-80 feet in height, 2-3 feet in diameter. It is distinguished by its yellow-green, oblong-elliptical, 3-lobed leaves. Leaves Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are variable
in size, and vary in the number of lobes per leaf. Leaf blades can
be unlobed or with few, irregular, short lobes. It is difficult to
describe the lobing patterns in concise terms. Leaves are dark green,
lustrous, and glabrous above, paler, olive-green, and less glabrous below.
Leaf Flowers
The twigs are reddish-brown to green and slightly pubescent. The
pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is light gray and scaly, similar to that of white oak.
The bluff oak grows in a variety of habitats, but is not abundant anywhere.
It is restricted to the deep south from Georgia west to eastern Texas and
south.
The bluff oak is of limited value as a timber species.
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| Quercus lyrata
overcup oak |
| Habit
The overcup oak is a small, irregular tree with crooked or twisted branches.
It may occasionally reach 100 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter.
The crown is characteristically irregular and open. The root system
is shallow and widespread.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves 6-10 inches
long, 1-4 inches wide, overall oval-elliptical in shape, with a variable
apex. The leaf base is wedge-shaped. Leaf margins are 5-9 lobed
and are extremely variable. Leaf sinuses are irregular in width and
depth. Leaves are dark green, lustrous, and glabrous above, paler
and pubescent or nearly glabrous below. Leaf petioles are slender,
about 1 inch long.
The twigs are slender, gray-brown, and glabrous. The pith is star-shaped
and homogeneous.
The bark is up to 1 inch thick, gray-brown, rough, irregularly ridged
or flattened, and often appearing spirally distorted.
The overcup oak is a bottomland species which grows on poorly drained,
clay soils subject to prolonged inundation with water. It is most
generally associated with willow, water oak, swamp chestnut oak, persimmon,
elms, green ash, and waterlocust. It is found on the Atlantic and
Gulf coastal plain from southern New Jersey to northern Florida and west
Texas; through the Mississippi drainage basin to Missouri, Illinois, and
Indiana.
This tree is of limited value as rough lumber.
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| Quercus falcata
southern red oak |
| Habit
The southern red oak is a medium-sized tree, 70-80 feet in height, 2-3
feet in diameter. It has spreading branches, forming a broad, open,
round crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 5-9 inches long, 4-5 inches wide, and of 2 basic types: (1) oval-shaped with 3 bristle-tipped lobes, or (2) deeply 5-7 lobed. Leaf bases are bell-shaped. Leaves are lustrous dark green above, rusty-pubescent below. Leaf petioles are flattened, slender, and 1-2 inches long. Flowers
The twigs are stout, orange-pubescent at first, becoming glabrous and
dark red in the second season, pubescent at first, becoming orange-brown
and glabrous during the first winter. The pith is star-shaped and
homogeneous.
The bark is up to 1 inch thick, dark brown or black, with rough scaly
ridges separated by deep fissures.
The southern red oak grows on dry, upland, infertile, sandy soils.
It is found on the coastal plain and Piedmont from New Jersey to central
Florida; west to Texas; north to southern Illinois and Indiana.
This tree is of moderate importance as a timber tree.
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| Quercus incana
bluejack oak |
| Habit
Bluejack red oak is small, often shrubby tree, sometimes forming thickets
by underground runners. It has a short, irregular trunk and an open
crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 1-4 inches
long, 1/2-2 inches wide, elliptical in shape, are generally unlobed, and
have an obtuse or acute apex, sometimes with very small bristle tips.
Leaf margins are entire. Leaf bases are rounded. Leaf surfaces
are bluish-green and glabrous above, pale and gray-pubescent below.
and of 2 basic types: (1) oval-shaped with 3 bristle-tipped lobes, or (2)
deeply 5-7 lobed. Leaf petioles are short and pubescent.
The twigs are slender with tiny gray hairs. The pith is star-shaped
and homogeneous.
The bark is dark gray or black.
The bluejack oak grows on well-drained sandy ridges and flats of pineland.
It is found on the coastal plain and Piedmont from southeastern Virginia
to north central Florida; west to central Texas, southwestern Arkansas,
and southeastern Oklahoma.
It is used locally for fuel.
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| Quercus laevis
turkey oak |
| Habit
Turkey oak is small tree, 20-30 feet in height, up to 2 feet in diameter,
usually smaller. It has a broad, open, irregular or round crown.
It is often shrubby on the poorest sites.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 3-12 inches
long, 1-8 inches wide, oval or triangular in shape, are 3-7 lobed, and
have sharply pointed tips. The terminal lobes are irregular and the
apex is 3 toothed. Leaf bases are wedge-shaped. Leaves are
lustrous yellow-green above, paler below, sometimes with rusty-red pubescence.
Leaf petioles are short, stout, and grooved.
The twigs are stout, red, becoming dark brown and glabrous. The
pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is dark gray, becoming nearly black, red within, scaly with
irregular fissures.
The turkey oak is an upland tree which grows on well-drained, sandy,
sterile soils. It is commonly associated with longleaf pine and bluejack
and post oaks. It is found on the coastal plain and Piedmont from
southeastern Virginia to central Florida; west to Louisiana.
It is used locally for fuel and in construction on farms.
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| Quercus laurifolia
laurel oak |
 Habit
The laurel oak is usually a medium-sized tree, 50-60 feet in height, up to 3-4 feet in diameter. It can sometimes reach a height of 100 feet. Its slender branches form a broad, round, dense, symmetrical crown. Leaves Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 2-4 inches
long, 1/2-1 inch wide, elliptical in shape, and have an acute apex.
Leaf margins are irregularly lobed. Leaves are lustrous green above,
pale below. The midrib is yellow. Leaf bases are wedge-shaped.
Leaf petioles are short, stout, yellow, and 1/4 inch long.
Fruit is an acorn, usually solitary. The nut is ovoid, up to 1
inch long, brownish-black, 1/2 inch long.
The twigs are slender, deep red, and glabrous. The pith is star-shaped
and homogeneous.
The bark is up to 1/2 inch thick, dark reddish-brown, smooth at first,
becoming divided into deep fissures separated by broad, flat ridges.
The laurel oak is scattered on sandy soils near streams and swamps.
It is found on the coastal plain from North Carolina to central Florida;
west to Louisiana. It is most abundant in Florida.
It is a common ornamental in many parts of the south. The wood
is of little value but it is used locally for fuel.
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| Quercus myrtifolia
myrtle oak |
| Habit
The myrtle oak is a small evergreen oak, seldom over 35 feet in height
or 4-8 inches in diameter. It forms extensive thickets, and when
exposed, adds an attractive element to the seascape.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. Leaves are small,
1-2 inches long, oval in shape, with a spiny tip at the apex. Leaf
margins are entire. Leaves are lustrous dark green above, paler green,
sometimes yellowish-green or orangish-brown below. Leaf bases are
rounded or wedge-shaped. Leaf petioles are very short and somewhat
winged.
The twigs are brown and pubescent. The pith is star-shaped and
homogeneous.
The bark is light gray on young trunks and dark gray, rough, and coated
with lichens on mature trunks.
It is usually found near salt water, on southern shores and adjacent
islands from South Carolina to Mississippi, including Florida.
It is of little or no commercial value.
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| Quercus michauxii (formerly known as Quercus
prinus)
swamp chestnut oak, basket oak, cow oak |
| Habit
Leaves Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 5-8 inches
long, 3-4 inches wide, oval to elliptical in shape, with a rounded or acute
apex. Leaf bases are wedge-shaped. Leaf margins are coarsely
wavy-toothed, with glandular-tipped teeth. Leaves are dark lustrous
green above, pale and silvery-pubescent below.
Leaf petioles about 3/4 inches long.
The twigs are stout, red or brown, becoming brownish-gray. The
pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is up to 1 inch thick, irregularly furrowed, scaly, gray on
the outer surface, and red within.
The swamp chestnut oak grows in moist, poorly-drained bottomlands subject
to periodic innundation with water. It is usually found in association
with water oak, cherrybark oak, willow oak, sweetgum, and red ash.
It is found along the Atlantic coastal plain from southern New Jersey to
northern Florida; west along the Gulf coastal plain to Texas; north through
the Mississippi drainage basin to southern Indiana and Illinois.
The wood of the swamp chestnut oak is used in the manufacture of farm
implements, posts, and baskets. The wood is similar in quality to
white oak, but not produced in the same quantity.
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| Quercus nigra
water oak |
| Habit
The water oak is a tall, slender tree, 50-80 feet in height, 2-3.5 feet
in diameter. It has ascending branches that form a round-topped,
symmetrical crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous, sometimes not falling until
late winter. Leaves are 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches wide, variable
in shape but mostly spatulate (shaped like a spatula), with an acute to
broadly-obtuse apex. Leaf bases are usually wedge-shaped. Leaf
margins are variable: (1) entire, (2) 3-lobed at the apex, or (3) variously
lobed, as is usually the case with vigorous sprouts and juvenile plants.
Leaves are dull bluish-green above, paler below. Leaf petioles
are short, stout, and flattened.
The twigs are slender, glabrous, dull red at first, becoming brown.
The pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is smooth and brown at first, becoming gray-black with rough,
scaly ridges.
The water oak is typically a bottomland species, but it may occur in
permanent swamps. It is usually associated with other hardwoods and
under favorable conditions, it is the most abundant species in the stand.
It is found on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to central
Florida; west to eastern Texas; north along the Mississippi drainage to
southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
The wood of the water oak is used locally for fuel and as a last resort, for timber. It is a favorite street and lawn tree in many southern cities.
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| Quercus shumardii
Shumard oak |
 Habit
The Shumard oak is usually a large tree, reaching 90-125 feet in height,
4-5 feet in diameter. Its long bole supports a broad, open crown.
The root system is extensive and moderately shallow.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and deciduous. Leaves are 8 inches
long, 4-5 inches wide, overall oval-shaped, with acute apex. Leaf
bases are wedge-shaped or flattened. Leaf margins have 7-9 bristle-tipped
lobes, often subdivided into secondary lobes by rounded sinuses.
Leaves are dark green and glabrous above, paler below with tufts of pubescence.
Leaf petioles are slender, glabrous, and about 2 inches long.
The twigs are moderately stout, glabrous, and gray-brown. The
pith is star-shaped and homogeneous.
The bark is thick with whitish, scaly ridges separtated by deep, darker
fissures.
Shumard oak is most abundant on deep, rich, bottomland soils and along
stream and swamp borders. It usually occurs as an occassional tree
in mixed hardwood forests. It is found from eastern Pennsylvania
south through Virginia and North Carolina to Georgia and Florida.
It is also found in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Texas.
The Shumard oak is a very important timber species used for flooring,
furniture, interior trim, and cabinetry. The lumber of this wood
is often mixed indiscriminantly with that of other oaks, thereby losing
its identity in trade.
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| Quercus virginiana var. virginiana
live oak |
 Habit
The live oak is a medium to large-sized tree, 40-50 feet in height,
3-4 feet in diameter. It has a broad, buttressed base which branches
close to the ground in a few massive, wide-spreading limbs, forming a broad,
low, dense, round-topped crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistant, falling in the spring
when the new foliage appears. Leaves are 2-5 inches long, 1/2-2.5
inches wide, oval to elliptical-shaped, with an obtuse apex. Leaf
bases are acutely wedge-shaped. Leaf margins are entire or rarely
toothed. Leaves are dark green and glabrous above, paler and pubescent
below. Leaf petioles are stout and are 1/4 inch long.
The twigs are slender and rigid, becoming gray-brown and glabrous. moderately stout, glabrous, and gray-brown. The pith is homogeneous. Bark The bark is dark red-brown, up to 1 inch thick, somewhat furrowed, and
separating into small scales.
The live oak grows on sandy soils along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal
plains. It is found from coastal Virginia south through southern
Mississippi and Louisiana; west to west-central Texas. It is also
found in Mexico and Cuba.
Back in the days of sailing ships, the U.S. Navy procured large holdings
of live oak forests for the tree's exclusive use in shipbuilding.
The large, massive, arching limbs were highly sought after for ship ribs
and knees. The wood was also used in the manufacture of hubs and
wooden cogs. Small quantities of the bark have been used in the tannin
industry, and the oil extracted from the acorns has been used in cooking.
Today, this tree makes a very attractive shade tree in both urban and rural
areas.
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| Quercus virginiana var. geminata
sand live oak |
| Habit
The sand live oak is a small scrubby tree which grow individually or
in thickets with other scrubby oaks. In longleaf pine forests, this
tree can reach the height of moderate to fairly large trees, with a form
similar to the live oak (Quercus virginiana var. virginiana).
Leaves Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistant, falling in the spring
when the new foliage appears. Leaves vary in size from one location
to another, but are stiff, leathery, and are oval to elliptical-shaped,
with an obtuse or slightly acute apex. Leaf bases are acutely wedge-shaped.
Leaf margins are entire and are commonly rolled downward so that the blades
have the appearance of an inverted, shallow boat. The midribs and
veins are somewhat impressed. Leaves are dark green and glabrous
above, paler and gray-pubescent below. Leaf petioles are very
small and stout.
The twigs are slender and rigid, becoming gray-brown and glabrous.
moderately stout, glabrous, and gray-brown. The pith is homogeneous.
The bark is dark red-brown, up to 1 inch thick, somewhat furrowed, and
separating into small scales.
The sand live oak grows on sites having relatively deep, infertile sands.
It is found on coastal dunes, in scrub ecosystems, in the understory of
slash pine near coastal areas, in longleaf pine-scrub oak ridges and hills,
and throughout much of northern Florida. It is found along the Atlantic
coast from southeastern Virginia to central Florida; west to southern Mississippi.
This tree has little or no commercial value.
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petioles
are short and glabrous.
The
swamp chestnut oak is a tree, usually 60-80 feet in height, 2-3 feet in
diameter. In the forest, it has a short, compact, round crown.
Grown in the open, it branches 15-30 feet above the ground to form a low,
spreading, open crown.