Quercus macrocarpa

Broad at top of leaf and tapers to base. Largest acorn.

Attracts songbirds, ground birds and mammals. Substrate-insectivorous birds, Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals, Fruit-rodents, Fruit-deer. Also attracts butterflies and is a larval host for the Edwards hairstreak and Horaces duskywing butterfly.

Prairies, open woods, sandy ridges, and stream edges. Widely distributed and capable of withstanding a wide range of harsh conditions (one of the most drought resistant oaks) throughout eastern North America; usually found on limestone or calcareous clay. Upland woods and valley floors, often forming savannas.

All of the white oaks are heavy, very hard, and strong. The wood is subject to large shrinkage during seasoning, and extra care must be taken to avoid checking and warping. Pores of the heartwood are impervious to liquids, making white oak the only successful wood for use as tight cooperage. Large amounts of higher grades are used for bourbon barrels. The heartwood is comparatively decay resistant, more so than that of red oaks. White oaks are above average in all machining operations except shaping. All oaks in the white oak group share just about the same properties and uses. Most white oak is made into lumber for flooring, furniture, tight cooperage, millwork, timbers, handles, boxes, and crates. Perhaps the largest amounts go into high-quality flooring, barrels, kegs, and casks. It is prized for use of construction of ships and boats.