Bur Oak

Description:

Bark is light gray, or reddish brown, thick, deeply fissured and broken into irregular narrow flakes. Bur Oak is a majestic tree of the tallgrass priarie that once covered central North America. It grows best in deep limestone soils of riverbanks and valleys but it will adapt to many different environments. It has a long taproot which makes it hard to transplant but also very drought-tolerant. It is also fast growing and long-lived. Bur oak is noted for its very large leaves and acorns: the leaves are from one-half to one foot long, and acorns can be as large as 2 inches long and wide, enclosed in a cup with fringe on the edge. It casts deep shade.

Habitat:

Riparian forest along Trinity River in Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area.