Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Fagaceae>Quercus shumardii Buckley

	One of our largest trees, Shumard Oak is uncommon in North Carolina in bottomland forests, most common in areas with basic or circumneutral soil. The bristle-tipped leaves are glossy dark green above and have deep sinuses, extending more than half way from the leaf edge to the leaf vein. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	Leaves are paler yellowish-green beneath and have prominent tufts of tan hairs in the axils of the veins. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	The similar Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) has less deeply lobed leaves that are less glossy above. Scarlet Oak(Q. coccinea) occurs in drier areas, has smaller, glossier leaves, and turbinate (instead of flat and shallow) acorn cups. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	Also compare with Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), which is a wetland species with even deeper sinuses. Shumard Oak leaves turn brown-red in fall instead of the bright scarlet of Scarlet Oak. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	Durham Co., NC 6/8/2003.

	Granville Co., NC 5/25/09.
	Granville Co., NC 5/16/09.
	Backlit leaves. Granville Co., NC 5/16/09.
	Sun leaves seen from far below. Sun leaves have much deeper sinuses than shade leaves. Granville Co., NC 5/16/09.
	The leaf undersides show a distinctive feature of Shumard Oak: tan tufts of hairs in the axils of the veins. Related oaks may have tufts of hairs in the veins, but they tend not to be as pale tan or as tufted. Granville Co., NC 5/25/09.

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

The bark is similar to that of Northern Red Oak, smoothish when young, then breaking into vertical ridges ("ski tracks").

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Bark of a young tree.

Granville Co., NC 5/16/09.

Bark of a larger tree.

Granville Co., NC 5/16/09.

	The bark of smaller stems, showing "ski tracks". Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	Same tree, at base. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.
	Bark of a large tree. Caswell Co., NC 5/30/10.
	Bark of a very large two-trunked tree. Caswell Co., NC 5/30/10.