By Egypt Crider 06/23/10 Elective Science Yellow Chestnut Oak Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm

Classification Kingdom: Plantae (Plants) Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledon) Order: Fagales (Flowering plants) Family: Fagaceae (Beech Family) Genus: Quercus (Oak) Species: Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm (Yellow Chestnut Oak) Also know as Chinkapin Oak and Chinquapin Oak

Shape, Form, and Type The Yellow Chestnut is a type of Deciduous tree Member of the Beech family Can grow anywhere from 70 to 80 feet in the wild It’s crown is narrow, rounded and spreads out over a fairly large range Figure 1: Yellow Chestnut Form

Bark Thin Flaky and coarse to the touch Light gray in color Breaks into narrow strips Similar to white oak bark Figure 2: Yellow Chestnut Bark

Twig and Leaf Twig Slender Orange brown color Start out green-red Buds cluster at branch tips Leaf Simple Alternate on branch Oblong in shape Gland tipped teeth 4 – 7 inches in length Dark green and shiny above Paler green below Figure 3: Leaves Figure 4: Twig

Bud, Flower, and Fruit Bud 1/8 inch long Pointed and cone shaped Chestnut brown color Frosted edges with individual scales Flower Males: Yellow-green hanging catkins, about 3 to 4 inches long Females: Can vary from green to red, small in leaf axils Found on the same tree Fruit Acorns found either lone or in pairs ½ covered by the cap Brown to nearly black Found on a short stalk

Figure 5: Yellow Chestnut Oak Buds Figure 6: YCO Flower Figure 7: Yellow Chestnut Oak Fruit

Habitat and Range The Yellow Chestnut Oak is mainly found in places with low slopes Wooded hills Dry cliffs Grows in alkaline soils and in well drained slopes of uplands The range includes Vermont and stretches across to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas and northern Florida Also found in Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio

Figure 8: Range of Yellow Chestnut Oak

Uses Used primarily for railroad ties Fence posts Fuel The sweet acorns are a food source for the wildlife and even humans Figure 9: Railroad Ties Figure 10: Wood Fire Figure 11: Squirrel Eating

References (Text) Quercus muehlenbergii (Yellow Chestnut Oak). Date Retrieved-06/24/ Quercus muehlenbergii Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Chinkapin Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Quercus muehlenbergii Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Quercus muehlenbergii. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Forest Trees of Illinois by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Forest Resources. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Quercus muehlenbergii Englem. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10

References (Pictures) Figure 1: Yellow Chestnut Form. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 2: Yellow Chestnut Bark. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 3: Leaves. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 4: Twig. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 5: Yellow Chestnut Oak Buds. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 6: YCO Flower. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 7: Yellow Chestnut Oak Fruit. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 8: Range of Yellow Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Figure 9: Railroad Ties. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 Figure 10: Wood fire. Date Retrieved- 06/24/ Figure 11. Squirrel Eating. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 snowdrops/autumn-squirrel-eating.jpghttp://images.mooseyscountrygarden.com/uk-gardens/st-giles-churchyard/squirrels-and- snowdrops/autumn-squirrel-eating.jpg