THE BIG TREES AND SHRUBS OF MICHIGAN 48. Quercus velutina Lam. Black Oak

摘要

The largest known Black Oak in Michigan is located in Algonac in St. Clair County in the southeastern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Description of the species: Black Oaks belong to the Red Oak group (sub-genus Erythrobalanus). They thereforehave leaves that are thick and leathery with bristle-tipped lobes. The sinuses between the lobes are generally shallow and broad but extend halfway or more to the midrib (Fig. 1). The winter buds are sharply angled and tomentose. The acorns are sessile or short stalked with deep bowl-shaped cups which cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the nut. The scales of the cup are thin and loose fitting, forming a slight fringe. The inner bark of this species is thick, bitter tasting, and bright yellow or orange. This is a highly variable species which is known to form hybrids with Red Oak, Scarlet Oak, and Shingle Oak (Voss, 1985).