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Black
oak may be found throughout the state on dry plains and ridges
but seldom on rich ground. It often grows in upland hardwood
stands in the Appalachian foothills.
Black oak leaves vary in form, generally with seven lobes (sometimes
five), sometimes being divided nearly to the midrib by rounded
sinuses. Lobes are toothed and usually taper from a broad base.
In early spring, the unfolding leaves are a deep red, turning
silvery, then green, within a few days.
The acorn is oval or rounded, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, and is enclosed
for about half its length in a deep, scaly, bowl-shaped cup.
The tree reaches 50 to 80 feet in height, and 3 feet or more
in diameter.
Bark on the trunks of old black oak trees usually is thick,
black and deeply divided into broad, rounded ridges. The inner
bark is bright orange or yellow; in all other oaks, it is pink.
The crown usually is rounded.
The wood is hard, heavy, strong, coarse-grained and cracks easily.
It is bright red-brown with a thin outer edge of paler sapwood.
It is sold as red oak and used for the same purposes as red
oak.
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