Narrative

Oaks of the United States generally can be divided into two separate groups. The Red Oak group has leaves that have small spines at the end of the lobes. The species in the White Oak group do not have these small spines. Generally, the Red Oak woods are not as strong and durable as those in the White Oak group.

White Oak Group of species of the eastern United States. The White Oaks of the eastern United States can be divided into three separate groups. The first group contains those species with a regular oak leaf with lobes. The second group contains those species with elliptical leaves. The third group contains those species with elliptical leaves that have wavy edges.

White Oaks of eastern United States with regular lobed oak leaves:
Quercus alba - White Oak
Quercus austrina - Bluff Oak
Quercus bicolor - Swamp White Oak
Quercus duranda - Durand Oak
Quercus lyrata - Overcup Oak
Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak
Quercus robus - English Oak
Quercus stellata - Post Oak

White Oaks of eastern United States with elliptical shaped leaves:
Quercus chapmanii - Chapman White Oak
Quercus myrtifolia - Myrtle Oak
Quercus oglethorpensis - Oglethorpe Oak
Quercus virginiana - Live Oak

White Oaks of eastern United States with wavy edged leaves:
Quercus bicolor - Swamp White Oak
Quercus michauxii - Swamp Chestnut
Quercus muehlenbergii - Chinkapin Oak
Quercus prinoides - Dwarf Chinkapin
Quercus prinus - Chesnut Oak

Taxonomy

References