gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org Open in urlscan Pro
54.237.159.171  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET /search/

<form action="/search/" method="get">
  <input type="text" autocomplete="off" name="q" value="" id="search-suggest" class="suggest" data-suggest-url="/search-suggestions/?q=%s" data-submit-on-select="true">
  <div class="suggester-menu" style="display: none; width: 259px;">
    <ul></ul>
  </div>
  <button type="submit" aria-label="Search">
    <img src="/static/images/icons/gb-search-icon.svg" alt="">
  </button>
</form>

Text Content

Your help is appreciated. We depend on donations to help keep this site free and
up to date for you. Can you please help us?

Donate ✕

Discover thousands of New England plants

menu
 * Home
 * Simple Key
 * PlantShare
 * Full Key
 * Dichotomous Key
 * Teaching
 * Help


 * You are here:
 * Simple Key
 * Woody plants
 * Broad-leaved woody plants
 * Quercus bicolor


QUERCUS BICOLOR — SWAMP WHITE OAK



Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click it to see
who you will need to contact.


NEW ENGLAND DISTRIBUTION

Adapted from BONAP data

about the labels on this map

Native: indigenous.

Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become
naturalized.

County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium
specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20
years).

State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a
county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20
years).

Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native
status is shown on the map.

Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.


NORTH AMERICA DISTRIBUTION

Adapted from BONAP data



enlarge


FACTS

The acorns of swamp white oak are nondormant, that is, they germinate right
after falling, and the seedlings must overwinter. Thus, this species reaches the
northeastern edge of its range in New England. The strong, hard wood of swamp
white oak is the valuable lumber sold as "white oak." Ducks often feast on its
acorns.


HABITAT

Floodplain (river or stream floodplains), forest edges, forests, swamps


CHARACTERISTICS

Habitat
 * terrestrial
 * wetlands

New England state
 * Connecticut
 * Maine
 * Massachusetts
 * New Hampshire
 * Rhode Island
 * Vermont

Growth form the plant is a tree Leaf type the leaf blade is simple (i.e., lobed
or unlobed but not separated into leaflets) Leaves per node there is one leaf
per node along the stem Leaf blade edges the edge of the leaf blade has lobes,
or it has both teeth and lobes Leaf duration the leaves drop off in winter (or
they wither but persist on the plant) armature on plant the plant does not have
spines, prickles, or thorns Leaf blade length 79–215 mm Leaf blade width 40–160
mm Leaf stalk the leaves have leaf stalks Fruit type (general) the fruit is dry
but does not split open when ripe Bark texture the bark of an adult plant is
ridged or plated Twig winter color
 * brown
 * yellow

Bud scale number there are three or more scales on the winter bud, and they
overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed
Show all characteristics


 * BUDS OR LEAF SCARS
   
   Bud scale number there are three or more scales on the winter bud, and they
   overlap like shingles, with one edge covered and the other edge exposed Bud
   scar shape (Fraxinus) NA Collateral buds there are no collateral buds on the
   sides of the branches Leaf scar arrangement there is one leaf scar per node
   on the stem or twig Superposed buds there are no superposed buds on the
   branch Terminal bud the branch has a terminal bud on it Winter bud
   distribution the winter buds are clustered near the tip of the twig Winter
   bud scale hairs the winter bud scales have no hairs on them Winter bud scales
   the winter bud is perulate (partially or completely covered with one or more
   scales) Winter bud shape
    * the winter buds are globose (spherical, globe-shaped)
    * the winter buds are ovoid (egg-shaped)
   
   Winter bud stalks the winter buds have no stalks


 * FLOWERS
   
   Anther color the anthers show no hint of a pink, reddish or purplish tint
   Carpels fused the carpels are fused to one another Enlarged sterile flowers
   there are no enlarged sterile flowers on the plant Flower petal color NA
   Flower symmetry there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the
   flower is radially symmetrical) Hairs on ovary (Amelanchier) NA Hypanthium
   present the flower does not have a hypanthium Inflorescence hairs there are
   no hairs on the inflorescence Inflorescence position the inflorescences grow
   on the twigs Inflorescence type
    * the inflorescence has only one flower on it
    * the inflorescence is an ament (catkin; slender, usually pendulous
      inflorescence with crowded unisexual flowers)
   
   Number of pistils 1 Ovary position the ovary is below the point of petal
   and/or sepal attachment Petal and sepal arrangement the flower includes only
   one cycle of petals or sepals Petal appearance NA Petal fusion NA Sepal
   appearance the sepals resemble leaves in color and texture Sepal cilia (Ilex)
   NA Sepal tip glands there are no glands at the tips of the sepal lobes Sepals
   fused only to sepals
    * the sepals are fused to each other (not other flower parts), at least near
      their bases
    * the sepals are separate from one another
   
   Stamen number
    * 1 or 2
    * 10
    * 11
    * 12
    * 3
    * 4
    * 5
    * 6
    * 7
    * 8
    * 9
   
   Stamen position relative to petals NA Stamens fused the stamens are not fused
   to one another


 * FRUITS OR SEEDS
   
   Berry color NA Fruit tissue origin there are no flower parts that form part
   of the fruit Fruit type (general) the fruit is dry but does not split open
   when ripe Fruit type (specific) the fruit is a nut (dry and indehiscent, with
   a hard wall, usually containing only one seed and usually subtended by an
   involucre) Nut with spines (Fagaceae) the involucre has no spines Wings on
   fruit there are no wings on the fruit


 * GLANDS OR SAP
   
   Sap color the sap is clear and watery Stalked glands on fruit (Rosa) NA


 * GROWTH FORM
   
   Growth form the plant is a tree


 * LEAVES
   
   Hairs on underside of leaf blade the underside of the leaf has hairs on it
   Hairs on upper side of leaf blade the upper side of the leaf is not hairy, or
   has very few hairs Leaf blade base shape the base of the leaf blade is
   cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight,
   converging edges), or narrow Leaf blade base symmetry the leaf blade base is
   symmetrical Leaf blade bloom the underside of the leaf has no noticeable
   bloom Leaf blade edges the edge of the leaf blade has lobes, or it has both
   teeth and lobes Leaf blade edges (Acer) NA Leaf blade flatness the leaf is
   flat (planar) at the edges Leaf blade hairs
    * at least some of the hairs on the leaf blade are branched
    * the leaf blade has tangled or woolly-looking hairs, without glands
   
   Leaf blade length 79–215 mm Leaf blade scales there are no scales on the leaf
   blades Leaf blade shape
    * the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both
      ends)
    * the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the
      middle of the leaf blade)
   
   Leaf blade texture the leaf blade is coriaceous (has a firm, leathery
   texture) Leaf blade translucent dots there are no translucent dots on the
   leaf blade Leaf blade vein pattern the main veins of the leaf blade are
   pinnate (the secondary veins branch off at intervals from the main central
   vein) and non-arcuate (not arched towards the leaf tip) Leaf blade veins the
   leaf blade has one main vein running from the base toward the tip Leaf blade
   width 40–160 mm Leaf duration the leaves drop off in winter (or they wither
   but persist on the plant) Leaf form the plant is broad-leaved (with broadly
   flattened leaf blades) Leaf lobe tips (Quercus) the lobes of the leaf blade
   are rounded or bluntly pointed Leaf midrib glands the midrib of the leaf
   blade lacks glands on the upper surface Leaf stalk the leaves have leaf
   stalks Leaf stalk attachment to leaf the petiole attaches at the basal margin
   of the leaf blade Leaf stalk nectaries there are no nectaries on the leaf
   stalk Leaf stalk shape the leaf stalk is not flattened Leaf teeth
    * the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)
    * the leaf blade margin is serrate (with forward-pointing) or dentate (with
      outward-pointing) with medium-sized to coarse teeth
    * the leaf blade margin is undulate (wavy), but does not have teeth
   
   Leaf teeth hairs (Carya) NA Leaf type the leaf blade is simple (i.e., lobed
   or unlobed but not separated into leaflets) Leaves per node there is one leaf
   per node along the stem Specific leaf type the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed
   or unlobed but not separated into leaflets Stipules there are no stipules on
   the plant, or they fall off as the leaf expands


 * PLACE
   
   Habitat
    * terrestrial
    * wetlands
   
   New England state
    * Connecticut
    * Maine
    * Massachusetts
    * New Hampshire
    * Rhode Island
    * Vermont
   
   Specific habitat
    * edges of forests
    * forests
    * river or stream floodplains
    * swamps


 * SCENT
   
   Plant odor the plant does not have much of an odor, or it has an unpleasant
   or repellant odor


 * STEM, SHOOT, BRANCH
   
   Aerial roots the plant has no aerial roots Bark texture the bark of an adult
   plant is ridged or plated Branch brittleness (willows only) NA Branch
   cross-section the branch is circular in cross-section, or it has five or more
   sides, so that there are no sharp angles First-year cane (Rubus) NA Lenticels
   on twigs there are no lenticels on the twigs, or they are very hard to see
   Pith shape the ouline of the pith in a twig is roughly star-shaped, with
   several points or arms radiating from the center Pith type the pith inside
   the twig is solid, completely filled with spongy tissue Short shoots there
   are no peg- or knob-like shoots present Twig bloom there is no bloom on the
   twig Twig hairs the twigs have few or no hairs on them Twig papillae
   (Vaccinium species only) NA Twig scales there are no scales on the twig
   surface Twig winter color
    * brown
    * yellow
   
   Wings on branch the branch does not have wings on it armature on plant the
   plant does not have spines, prickles, or thorns


WETLAND STATUS

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator
code: FACW)


NEW ENGLAND DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS


DISTRIBUTION

Connecticut present Maine present Massachusetts present New Hampshire present
Rhode Island present Vermont present


CONSERVATION STATUS

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check
with your state.

Maine extremely rare (S-rank: S1), threatened (code: T) Massachusetts fairly
widespread (S-rank: S4)


NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA?

Yes and no (some introduced)


SOMETIMES CONFUSED WITH

Quercus alba: leaf blades essentially without hairs on the lower surface and
stalk of nut usually no longer than 25 mm (vs. Q. bicolor, with leaf blades
evidently hairy on the lower surface and stalk of nut mostly 40-70 mm long).
Quercus macrocarpa: leaf blade usually with 1 or more sinuses near or below the
middle of the blade that extend more than 1/2 way from the tips of the lobes to
the midvein and stalk of nut mostly 6-20 mm long (vs. leaf blade without deep
sinuses near or below the middle of the blade and stalk of nut mostly 40-70 mm
long).


FAMILY

Fagaceae


GENUS

Quercus

Help


FROM THE DICHOTOMOUS KEY OF FLORA NOVAE ANGLIAE

2.  Quercus bicolor Willd. N

swamp white oak. CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT; largely absent from extreme northern
New England, though extending north in the Lake Champlain Valley of VT. Swamps,
riparian forests, lacustrine forests, forest borders.

1×2. Quercus alba × Quercus bicolor → Quercus ×‌jackiana Schneid. is a rare oak
hybrid known from CT, MA, RI. The leaf blades are intermediate in nature,
generally with an outline more similar to Q. alba but with some pubescence
abaxially (as in Q. bicolor). The nut is sometimes nearly sessile or other times
on long peduncles.

2×7. Quercus bicolor × Quercus macrocarpa → Quercus ×‌schuettei Trel. is a very
rare oak hybrid known from VT. It is primarily known from the lacustrine
floodplain of Lake Champlain where both parents grow together. The hybrid’s
leaves are generally a little smaller and show less prominent lobes than those
of Q. macrocarpa. Further, the pubescence of the leaf blades is less dense and
not as persistent as that of Q. bicolor.



All images and text © 2024 Native Plant Trust or respective copyright holders.
All rights reserved.

Native Plant Trust
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701 USA

Go Botany (3.9)

 * Home
 * Simple Key
 * PlantShare
 * Full Key
 * Dichotomous Key
 * Teaching
 * Help

 * Privacy Policy
 * Terms of Use
 * Contact Us

The Go Botany project is supported in part by the National Science Foundation.

loading