Chinquapin Oak

A medium to large tree that grows up to 70 feet tall with a trunk around 3 feet in diameter. It has a rounded crown filled with glossy green foliage and is often planted as a shade tree, especially in limestone-rich areas.

Native from northeast to Central Texas and south to the Guadalupe River, with populations also in the mountains of West Texas. It prefers limestone soils and often grows at the base of bluffs or along streambeds.

Leaves are simple, alternate, and sharply toothed without bristle tips. They range from 4 to 6 inches long and 1.5 to 2 inches wide, with a slightly recurved edge. Leaf shape varies from oval to oblong.

Male and female flowers appear in spring on the same tree. Males form on yellowish catkins 3 to 4 inches long; female flowers are smaller and reddish.

Acorns mature in one season and measure 0.5 to 1.25 inches long. They are enclosed halfway in a bowl-shaped cup and are edible when roasted.

The bark is light gray, flaking in narrow pieces, and becomes deeply furrowed as the tree ages. The wood is dense and durable, used for barrels, fencing, furniture, and fuel.

Swamp chestnut oak grows in southeast Texas and has broader leaves with rounded teeth. It shares similar bark but differs in habitat and leaf shape.

The name comes from its leaves, which resemble those of the Allegheny chinquapin—a close relative of the American chestnut.