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Bur (or Burr) Oak
(Quercus macrocarpa) 

Research conducted by:  Andrew Ranka, Michael Dinevski, Grosse Ile High School Students

 

General Characteristics:  One of the most massive oaks with a trunk diameter of up to 10 ft and mature height of over 100 ft. The bark is gray with distinct vertical ridges.

 

Range
Native Distribution: Saskatchewan East to New Brunswick, southwest to Texas, and north to Montana

 

How to identify the tree species?: 
It has a stout trunk and a broad, rounded open crown of stout and crooked branches. Its leaves are 3-6 inches long with five to seven rounded lobes that are widest at the center and are dark green above and grayish green and fuzzy beneath. Acorns grow from the tree.   The acorns are very large (1-2 inches long and up to 1 1/2 inch wide) and have a distinctive hairy fringe at the edge of the cup
   

Commercial Value:  

People use the tree for cabinetry, barrels, hardwood flooring, and fence posts.

 

Wildlife Value:  

Many butterflies use the tree as a home and somewhere safe to live. Moths also use the tree for cover and a safe place to stay. It also gives a place for wood mice. 

Burr oaks are keystone species, many animals rely on the tree for food(acorns). The neotropical songbirds use the burr oaks for shelter and food during their migration. In addition, bur oaks provide homes for many birds such as the Baltimore oriole, wood pewee and phoebe, all which need good quality oak woodland for their habitat.

Interesting Tidbits:  

  • The Bur Oak is the most fire-resistant of the Oak family.

  • It is also one of the most cold-resistant oaks.

  • They can live about 400 years. 

  • They are one of the slowest growing oaks
     

Citations:

(“Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center”)

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=quma2#:~:text=Bur%20oak%20is%20a%20large,rough%2C%20deep%2Dridged%20bark.

 

https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/why-bur-oaks-matter-to-wildlife

 

https://www.internationaloaksociety.org/content/jack-phillips-bur-oak-manifesto

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