How to identify Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)

How to identify Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)

Overcup oak, also known as Swamp post oak

Overcup oak is a robust deciduous oak with a canopy that spreads extensively, offering ample shade. Its leaves showcase a distinctive shape with deep lobes and sinuses, reminiscent of a lyre, which show green hues before turning to a mosaic of yellow, brown, or red in the fall. One of the most notable features of overcup oak is its unique acorn, notable for its thick, woody cup that covers most of the nut, providing buoyancy. These acorns can reach sizes of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Overcup oak

Distinctive lyre-shaped leaves with deep lobes and sinuses.

Large acorns with thick, woody cup covering most of the nut.

Grey, pubescent acorn cup with soft hair-like scales.

Shiny, dark green leaves with 5-9 deeply rounded lobes.

Distinctive grey bark with deep furrows and scaly ridges.

Detailed Traits of Overcup oak

Leaf Features

The leaves of overcup oak are 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) long, shiny, and dark green, shaped like a wedge. The undersides are gray-green and covered with fine hairs. The leaf margins feature 5 to 9 deeply rounded lobes. In the fall, their color can vary from yellow to brown or red. The prominent veins and glossy surface make these leaves distinctive and easily identifiable.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of overcup oak are small and inconspicuous. Male flowers form in drooping catkins, 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long, appearing as elongated clusters. Female flowers are less conspicuous and occur in separate catkins, both types emerging on the same tree. These flowers lack petals and prominent scent, blooming in early spring from March to April. This monoecious arrangement facilitates pollination within the same tree.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of overcup oak exhibits greyish pubescent twigs that gradually become smooth as they age. Initially covered in fine, short hairs, these twigs transition to a glabrous texture over time. The color may shift from a more intense grey to a smoother, paler hue. The stems of overcup oak are typically robust, with moderately thick twigs measuring up to 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter, and exhibit a slightly angular branching pattern, aiding in their identification.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of overcup oak presents as acorns with an oval to oblong shape, ranging in size from approximately 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in length. Typically, these acorns are found singularly or in pairs per stalk. A distinctive cup encases most of the nut, characterized by grey, soft, hair-like structures known as pubescent scales. These fruits are produced annually and begin to bear seeds when the plant is about 25-30 years old. Available in September to October, especially in regions like North Carolina, the acorns are a notable identification feature of overcup oak.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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