Blackjack Oak Quercus Marilandica Muench By, Ronnie Booth

Classification Kingdom- Plantae Subkingdom- Tracheobionta Superdivision- Spermatophyta Division- Magnoliophyta Class- Magnoliopsida Subclass- Hamamelididae Order- Fagales Family- Fagaceae Genus- Quercus L. Species- Quercus Mariliandica Muench 1

Shape, Type, and Form The blackjack oak is a tree that grows to a maximum of 50 feet tall, mostly it is much shorter. It has limbs that grow lower to the ground and grow downwards. The trunk of the tree can grow up to a 18 inches in diameter. The trunk is often very knarled 2 Figure 1- blackjack oak form

Bark Figure 2- Blackjack Oak Bark The bark of a blackjack oak is a gray or brown color. As the tree matures, the bark becomes less smooth and more rough. 2

Twig The twigs of a blackjack oak are medium sized, with alternating leaves. They are brown in color and are a little hairy. Most of the leaf scars on the twigs are toward the tip of the twigs. 2 Figure 3- Blackjack Oak Twig

Leaf The leaf of a blackjack oak’s leaf is thicker than most leaves. It has a rounded base with a three lobed tip In the fall they turn a variety of colors. 3 Figure 4- Blackjack Oak Leaf

Bud Figure 5- Blackjack Oak Bud The bud of a blackjack oak are rather small. They are slightly angled, and are normally between a half and a quarter inch long. 2

Flower The flowers are in groups of 2-3. They droop down. 2 Figure 6- Blackjack Oak Flower

Fruit The acorn is nearly round. They can be up to half an inch in diameter. The top of the acorn covers nearly half the acorn. 2 Figure 7- Blackjack Oak Fruit

Habitat and Range The Blackjack Oak is mostly found in poor soil. Mostly found on dry rocky cliffs. Found mostly in the South and Midwest. 2 Figure 8- Blackjack Oak Range

Uses The blackjack oak is mostly used for fuel, especially charcoal. 2

Works Cited 1- USDA, NRCS The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 ( National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA USA. Reviewed on ( Plant Data Center 2- Mohlenbrock, R. H. (n.d.). Blackjack Oak. Forest trees of illinois. Illinois: Illinois Department of Resources Division of Forest Resources. 3- Steyermark, J.A. (1981). Quercus Marilandica Muenchh. (1981). Flora of Missouri. Annes, Iowa, United States of America: The Iowa State University Press.

Image Cited Figure 1: Blackjack Oak Form No Date Date Retrieved: Figure 2: Blackjack Oak Bark No Date Date Retrieved: Figure 3: Blackjack Oak Twig 2002, Steven J. Baskauf Date Retrieved: Figure 4: Blackjack Oak Leaf No Date Date Retrieved:

Images Cited Figure 5: Blackjack Oak Bud No Date, Craig Rowe Date Retrieved: AABxo/nyYJTu6ZyKc/s400/091031BlackjackOakBud.jpg Figure 6: Blackjack Oak Flower 2008, Will Cook Date Retrieved: Figure 7:Blackjack Oak Fruit No Date Date Retrieved: Figure 8: USDA, NRCS The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 ( National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA USA. Reviewed on ( Plant Data Center