[CJBS2003]

Chestnut (rock) oak- Quercus prinus

Basket oak- Quercus michauxii, also commonly known as the Swamp Chestnut Oak is very similar to the rock oak. The trees look very much alike. Usually the biggest indicator of which species you are dealing with is where the tree is found. Upland habitats, it's most likely a rock oak, bottom land areas near water most like the basket or swamp chestnut oak.

 

[threeinchmag]

LEAVES: Alternate, simple, 5"-9" long, to 3" wide; with course, rounded teeth. Dark green and smooth above, paler and occasionally downy beneath.

TWIGS: Smooth, orange-brown to reddish-brown. Buds light brown, sharp pointed, edges of scales hairy, ¼ to ½" long.

FRUIT: An acorn, 1 to 1½" long; rich dark brown, shiny. Cup thin, hairy inside, enclosing 1/3-1/2 of the nut; cup scales knobby. Fruit ripens in one growing season with kernels moderately sweet.

BARK: Grey and smooth on young trees, later brownish gray to dark gray, thick, tough, deep-fissured.

GENERAL: Also called Rock oak and Basket oak this tree grows to 80' on dry slopes and ridgetops throughout Pennsylvania. Large crops of acorns produced every 4-7 years are important food for deer, bear, turkey and many other birds and animals. The bark is very rich in tannin and the wood heavy and strong. It is used for furniture, flooring, millwork, and railroad ties.



Off the DCNR site.All the same tree.

 

[CJBS2003]

There are many common names for trees... But if you want to feel like you are right, go for it!

 

[threeinchmag]

The important thing is hopefully we helped Sch out with his question.

 

[Dayton_Boy13]

I SECOND THREEINMAG.I HAVE the pennsylvaina tres book AND IT IS GREAT.THE ONLY thING IS IT DOES NOT HAVE CHESTNUT OAKS IN IT (HOWEVER IF YOU SEE A TREE WITH CHESTNUT SHAPED LEAVES ON IT LONG WITH SEMI ROUNDED SERRATIONS AND IT DROP BIg ARSE ACORNs THATS A CHESTNUT. a good way to tell the diff between red and white oaks. the way i was taught. they both have pretty semmetrical leaves. but the red oak has pointed tips like the red mans arrows while the white oak has rounded tips like the white mans bullets. as far as swamps go they have rounded edges but the leaves are very unsymmetrical. the pin oak has rounded edges with real deep cuts between the loobs.

 

[rrroae]

Here's a very good post on tree identification along with pictures(pic heavy).

Scroll halfway down the page.

http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27226&page=5

 

[CJBS2003]

The thing I think most guys need is what acorns from different oaks look like when they're on the ground... I have a whole collection of them. Should take photos and post.