Tree to 25 m (80 ft) tall and 1 m (3 ft) diameter, with rounded crown. Bark light gray scaly plates and ridges. Twigs slender, gray, ending in a cluster of small eggshaped brown buds. Leaves alternate, elliptical, 5-9 lobed, tapering to base, 10-25 cm (4-10 in) long, dark green above, whitish below, turning red to brown in fall. Fruits are acorns maturing in the first year, 1-3 cm (0.4-1.2 in) long, with light gray cup covering about 1/4.
Distribution: Native to about the eastern half of the United States.
Habitat: well-drained bottomland forests, mesic upland forests.
Comment: White oak is an important timber tree, furnishing high-quality wood for whiskey barrels and furniture. Quercus is the ancient classical name for the European oaks; alba means "white" and may refer to the pale bark.
NWI status: FACU+
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/16/99
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