Quercus acutissima Carruth.

Saw Tooth Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Saw Tooth Oak is an introduced deciduous tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It is native to Asia from India to Japan and Korea. In Alabama it has been widely planted, and is reported as an escape in several counties in the southern half of the state. Saw Tooth Oak occurs in disturbed woodlands, along fence rows, and along roadside forest edges. It is a medium to large tree, reaching heights of 90 feet. The bark is ridged and furrowed and light gray in color. The tree tends to maintain its lower limbs. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate in outline, pubescent on the lower surface (sometimes only along the veins), with toothed margins. The teeth are tipped with bristles. The leaves turn bright yellow or brown before falling in the autumn. Flowers are produced on the previous seasons growth in the spring. Male flowers are produced in greenish-yellow drooping catkins. Female flowers are produced singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. The fruit is an acorn. The cup covers about ½ of the acorn and has reflexed ligulate (tongue-shaped) scales. Fruit take two years to mature. Saw Tooth Oak is widely planted as a wildlife food source. It produces large crops of acorns yearly from a young age. Saw Tooth Oak is reported to escape in several eastern states from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. It is listed as an invasive species by the National Park Service. It is on the Alabama Invasive Plant Council’s Watch List A: Recently appearing in Alabama as free-living infestations.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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