Quercus laevis Walter

Turkey Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Turkey Oak is a native deciduous tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It can be found in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. Turkey Oak occurs in xeric (very dry) longleaf pine woodlands, scrub oak sandhills, on dunes, and on shallow soils of rock outcrops. It is a member of the red oak group. The acorns require two years to mature and are higher in tannins than those of the white oak group. Turkey Oak usually has a single trunk. Trees can grow to 60 feet in height, but are usually in the 20-30 foot range. The bark is dark gray and deeply furrowed. Turkey Oak has large sharply lobed leaves that are turned at a ninety-degree angle to the direct rays of the sun at noon. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, thick in texture, and glabrous except for tuffs of hairs in the axils of the veins on the lower surface. The leaves ovate to elliptic in outline and have three to seven large, bristle-tipped lobes. They somewhat resemble the tract of a bird. The leaves often turn bright red or yellow in the autumn. They turn brown after several frosts and remain on the tree until spring. Turkey Oak produces greenish-yellow catkins of male flowers in the spring. Female flowers are sessile or short stalked in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is an acorn. The acorns are about one inch in length, and have a high crude fat content. They are a valuable food source for animals. The bark of Turkey Oak is relatively thick and protects the tree from ground fires. Turkey Oak grows best in full sun in well drained soils. It is sometimes available from native plant nurseries or can be grown from seed. Seedling develop deep tap roots and are not easily transplanted.--A. Diamond

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Native

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