Oaks
Overcup Oak
Overcup oak bears a distinctive acorn; the nut is almost entirely covered by the cup. The 30-45 ft., deciduous tree has a rounded crown at maturity. Its lower branches are upswept. Dark-green, leathery leaves turn rich, tannin-brown in fall, abscising early. Tree with rounded crown of small, often drooping branches, with acorns almost covered by the cup, and narrow deeply lobed leaves.
A medium to large slow growing tree up to 80 feet (24.4 m), occasionally to 155 feet (47.2 m), with a rounded crown. BARK: gray with deep furrows and scaly ridges or plates. TWIGS and BUDS: grayish pubescent twigs becoming smooth with age; ovoid buds with light brown pubescent scales. LEAVES: petiole 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) in length; leaf blade narrowly oblong, 4 - 6 1⁄2 inches (101 - 165 mm) long, 2 - 4 inches (51 - 101 mm) wide, base cuneate to acute, margins deeply lobed with sinuses greater than 1⁄2 way to midrib, lobes rounded with 1 - 3 teeth; surface dark green (may be shiny) above, and pubescent grayish-green below, with a whitish bloom that rubs off.
The Latin species name, meaning "lyre-shaped," refers to the leaves.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Oblong
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Leaf Base: Cuneate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Catkin
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: Medium to large slow growing tree up to 80 feet (24.4 m), occasionally to 155 feet (47.2 m) tall.
Leaf: Leaf surface dark green (may be shiny) above, and pubescent grayish-green below.
Fruit: Acorns annual; 1 1⁄2 inch (38 mm) peduncle with 1 - 2 acorns; spheroid shaped cup with gray pubescent scales, covering most of the nut; light brown, ovoid or oblong nut, 1 - 2 inches (25 - 51 mm) long, finely pubescent.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: Delaware and New Jersey south to Florida, west to Texas, and north through the Mississippi Valley and drainages to Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.
Native Habitat: Restricted to poorly-drained lowlands of the Southern coastal plain and major rivers of the South and mid West.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Poorly drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Tolerates flooding. Not widely available, but is likely to become an important landscape tree.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Attracts migratory waterfowl.
Use Other: This oak species is often utilized as white oak lumber.
Interesting Foliage: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Bibliography
Bibref 1134 - Field Guide to Native Oak Species of Eastern North America (2003) Stein, John D. and Denise Binion
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Example of Sizes
