What Does a Blackjack Oak Tree Look Like?

A blackjack oak tree (Quercus marilandica) is a small to medium-sized oak tree that is native to the eastern United States. The tree gets its name from the blackjack, or poker, game that was once popular in the southern United States.

The blackjack oak is a member of the red oak group of oaks (Quercus sect. Lobatae), which includes such other species as the northern red oak (Quercus rubra), the southern red oak (Quercus falcata), and the live oak (Quercus virginiana).

The blackjack oak is a small to medium-sized tree, typically growing to 20-30 feet (6-9 m) tall and 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 m) wide. The tree has a short trunk and a rounded or oblong crown. The bark is dark brown to black and deeply furrowed. The leaves are alternate, simple, and obovate in shape with a blunt tip.

They are 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long and 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) wide with curved veins that give them a wrinkled appearance. The leaves are dark green above and rusty brown below, with hairy surfaces on both sides. The margins are usually untoothed but may have a few small teeth near the base. The leaves turn yellow or brown in fall before they drop off the tree.

The blackjack oak produces small, acorn-like fruits called cupules that mature in one season and contain one or two seeds each. The cupules are borne on short stalks and are an important food source for many wildlife species including squirrels, deer, and birds.

The blackjack oak is found throughout the eastern United States from Maine to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. It prefers dry, sandy soils but can also be found on rocky hillsides and ridges. The tree is often associated with other dry woodland plants such as pines (Pinus spp.), oaks (Quercus spp.

), hickories (Carya spp.), maples (Acer spp.), and cherries (Prunus spp.).

The blackjack oak is an important source of timber for many industries including furniture making, flooring, veneer, construction, cooperage, railroad ties, fuelwood, charcoal, and woodchip production. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and resistant to decay making it ideal for many uses.

The blackjack oak is not considered to be a valuable ornamental tree due to its scraggly appearance but it does have some ecological value. The tree provides habitat for many wildlife species and helps to stabilize sandy soils with its deep roots system.