Is Blackjack Oak a Red or White Oak?

Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) is a small deciduous tree or large shrub that is typically found in dry, open woodlands, prairies, and along roadsides in the eastern United States. This plant is easily recognized by its dark, nearly black bark which is why it has been given its common name. The leaves of blackjack oak are obovate (egg shaped) with rounded lobes and a toothed margin. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green while the lower surface is a paler green.

The leaves turn yellow or brown in the fall before they are shed from the tree. Male and female flowers grow on the same tree (monoecious), but they are borne on different types of branches. The male flowers are found in long, drooping catkins while the female flowers occur in short, erect spikes. The fruit of blackjack oak is an acorn that matures in one season and has a scaly cap that covers less than half of the nut.

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PRO TIP:Blackjack Oak is a species of oak tree classified as a Red Oak, rather than a White Oak. It is characterized by its dark, almost black bark and yellow-green leaves.

Blackjack oak is often confused with other oaks in the red oak group (Quercus sect. Lobatae), but it can be distinguished from these species by its smaller size, darker bark, and obovate leaves with rounded lobes. It is also a member of the white oak group (Quercus sect.

Quercus), but it can be distinguished from these species by its smaller size, darker bark, and obovate leaves with rounded lobes. So, what exactly is blackjack oak? Based on its characteristics, it appears to be a hybrid between a red oak and a white oak.