Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Fagaceae>Quercus michauxii Nuttall

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp Chestnut Oak is a fairly common large tree of bottomland forests.

The leaves are somewhat similar to the Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) of rocky uplands, but are larger and broader towards the tip. Also similar is Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), a rare tree (in NC) of slopes over basic rock, which has more sharply-pointed teeth.

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Durham Co., NC 8/3/2003.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Leaf undersides are paler...

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

...and hairy.

Durham Co., NC 6/27/2009.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Leaves turn reddish in the fall.

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) acorns

The cap extends about halfway down the acorn.

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) acorn

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Leaf undersides.

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Chatham Co., NC 9/20/03.

White Oak (Quercus alba) x Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) hybrid

As with most oaks, hybrids with other species are not rare. The photo at left shows an apparent Quercus alba x Quercus michauxii. Compare this hybrid with Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor).

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) bark

The pale, scaly bark is nearly identical to that of White Oak (Quercus alba) and quite unlike the tightly ridged bark of Chestnut Oak.

Bark of a large tree.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

The bark of some larger trees is not scaly.

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) bark

Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) bark

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) bark

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) bark

Durham Co., NC 8/3/2003.

More information:
Bioimages
Floridata
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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