Chinkapin oak prefers soil with high limestone content, and the bark is pale gray and flaky. Category: Shrubs. There are no sharp dividing lines between trees, shrubs, and woody vines, or even between woody and nonwoody plants. The small, sweet acorns are possibly the most preferred by wildlife. Chinkapin oak, a Central Texas native, is a medium-sized tree, reaching 40 to 50 feet tall, and just as wide, in most landscapes. Q. muehlenbergii - Q. muehlenbergii is a rounded, deciduous tree with scaly, grey bark and elliptic to obovate, glossy, triangularly lobed, pointed, dark green leaves, paler beneath, with curved teeth and turning yellow-brown in autumn. Trees are woody plants over 13 feet tall with a single trunk. Chinkapin Oak loves alkaline soil! rufescens: One vendor has this plant for sale. Also found in moist bottomlands, floodplain forests, and lower slopes along streams. It has been widely hailed as a sweet and edible nut and has been of value to it's cousin, the American chestnut's breeding programs. Chinquapin oak, chestnut oak, and swamp oak are all common species that resemble OC based on leaf morphology until you look … Chinkapin Oak. Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is a native oak which is often not recognized as an oak when first encountered.It does not have lobed leaves like most other oaks; its leaves are toothed like a chestnut.Like all oaks, it does have a cluster of buds at the end of branches. Its inner bark, like that of most other oaks, is rich in tannic acid, which is used for tanning purposes. This tree should not be confused with chinquapin oak. Sometimes spelled “Chinkapin,” this Oak is not a rare tree. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. It was formerly placed in the Castanopsis genus, which now refers mainly to chinkapins native to eastern Asia. Q. muehlenbergii, sometimes referred to as yellow chestnut oak, is also called chinquapin oak. Fagaceae -- Beech family. “Wood” is a type of tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants develop as they mature — whether they are “woody” or not. Chinkapin Oak loves alkaline soil! Chinkapin today is planted as a shade tree and is valuable for its lumber, which has many uses, ranging from fuel to fence posts to cabinetry and furniture. Based on the chemical analysis of this study, it appears as though Chestnut is a perfectly acceptable source for wood in barrel cooperage for wine, as it displays similar flavor profiles to many other oak species already used in cooperage. Many English words for American plants, animals, and places (like hickory, woodchuck, and Massachusetts) are essentially Algonquian words. A relative of the American chestnut, Allegheny chinkapin is a tall, native, deciduous, nut-producing shrub that can be found growing … Read More Vines require support or else sprawl over the ground. The staminate flowers are borne in catkins that develop from the leaf axils of the previous year, and the pistillate flowers develop from the axils of the current year's leaves. Chinkapin oak has a distinctive flaky, gray-yellowish bark as it matures, leading to one of its other common names—the yellow oak. They are a wildlife staple. Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) acorn. Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes, woodlands Characteristics. The difference between Chestnut and Chinquapin When used as nouns , chestnut means a tree or shrub of the genus castanea, whereas chinquapin means any of the trees in the genus castanopsis. The three similar species may occur in close proximity on slopes, with Swamp Chestnut tending to be at the bottom of a slope, Chinkapin in the middle, and Chestnut at the top. It is a deciduous tree reaching 30 m tall exceptionally up to 50 m, with a rounded crown and thin, scaly or flaky bark on the trunk. With its chestnut-like leaves and bright fall color, Chinkapin Oak is sure to make a statement in any landscape. Common. Chinkapin oak is notable for its shaggy bark, and its shiny, green leaves with shallow teeth that turn upwards at the tip and have a tiny projection (papilla) at each tip. Introduction: Chinkapin oak is a member of the white oak group with chestnut-type leaves. Dwarf Chinkapin Oak forms a shrub or small tree usually not more than 20 feet tall. In summer, excellent foliage is appreciated for its shade. Habitat: Grows on rocky slopes and exposed bluffs.Commonly fount in the east and southwest Iowa. Nevertheless, it is not particularly common in rural or urban areas. Early pioneers used its straight wood to make thousands of miles of fences in the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. At maturity this tree will reach 70 feet with a 30 foot canopy. It can produce its first crop of acorns at 3-5 years of age. Underside paler than top, with gray hairs and conspicuous veins. Unlike most white oaks, chinkapin oak is tolerant of alkaline soil. Chinkapin burs open into two sections (valves) whereas chestnut burs open into four sections. Chinkapins have only one […] Once again, like many other species of oak, the chinkapin oak is native to most of the United States east of Colorado as well as in two states sharing a border with the Centennial state, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Oak tree bark: The chestnut oak is identified by its unique bark that has deep fissures producing pronounced peaked ridges. The chestnut oak is readily identified by its massively-ridged dark gray-brown bark, the thickest of any eastern North American oak. If you’re interested in planting something on your property that can quickly provide mast, attract deer and provide groundcover at the same time, it’s time to consider an alternative to the standard oak tree plantings. Swamp chestnut oak is often called either cow oak, because the acorns are eaten by cattle, or basket oak, from local use of wood strips for basket material. Its whitish bark and branch structure create a beautiful silhouette in winter. Unlike, many oaks, once it starts bearing, it has a good crop almost every year. Dwarf chestnut oak grows as a small tree or rhizomatous shrub, typically inhabiting dry areas. Not all possible situations are covered. Chinkapin Oak - leaves are similar, but bark and acorns are entirely different. It is an attractive tree that does best in moist to dry well-drained soil but adapts to different soil types. The chinkapin oak is also commonly referred to as a yellow chestnut oak, rock oak or yellow oak. It’s acorns are also less bitter and more palatable to wildlife than most other oaks. The Allegheny chinkapin, also called common chinkapin, may well be the most ignored and undervalued native North American nut tree. It seldom grows in size or abundance to be commercially important, but the heavy wood makes excellent fuel. View gallery. Family: Fagaceae (fag-AY-see-ee) Genus: Quercus (KWER-kus) Species: prinoides: Synonym: Quercus prinoides var. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. … Height: 40-50′ Spread: 40-50′ Habit/Form: Rounded Growth Rate: Slow Zone: 5-7 Custom Search Chinquapin Oak – Quercus muhlenbergii Chinquapin oak is easily grown in rich, loamy, well-drained soils in full sun. Chinkapin Oak Quercus muehlenbergii Description & Overview. The Chinkapin Oak is also sometimes known as the Yellow Chestnut Oak or Rock Oak. Swamp chestnut oak is a medium to large tree with a wide, rounded crown and bark resembling that of white oak. Chinquapin oak is the #1 species commonly mistaken for Ozark chinquapin. Hot Springs, Madison Co., NC 5/11/08. Summary. The Chinquapin Oak Tree is a medium sized tree in the white oak group, and the bark is gray-brown and scaly and quite distinct in the landscape. Chinkapin oak is notable for its shaggy bark, and its shiny, green leaves with shallow teeth that turn upwards at the tip and have a tiny projection (papilla) at each tip. Interesting Facts: Chinkapin oak is named because of the resemblance of the leaves to the Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila), a relative of American chestnut (C. dentata). Chinkapin Oak - Quercus muehlenbergii. Deer highly prefer chinkapin oak but generally ignore acorns of chestnut oak if other acorns are present. Chinkapin was later applied to several species in the genera Castanea and Castanopsis.. It is found in floodplains throughout the Southeast (see range map in the Gallery below) on moist, well-drained soils adjacent to bottomlands, small or big streams, or on the first terrace or ridge away from water.