Quercus coccinea Münchh.

Eastern USA; to 1500 m; introduced in Europe in 1691;

reaches 25 m tall; lower part of the trunk without dead wood;

7-20 x 5-13 cm; oboval or oval; base truncate or slightly cuneate; 3-5 lobulate lobes each side of the midrib; lobes paired often unequally; terminal lobe more important (longer and/or larger); veins not always opposite, ending into bristle-tips; rather deep sinuses, widely rounded; lustrous dark green above, paler beneath with prominent whitish veins; both sides lustrous and glabrous except sometimes some brownish axillary tufts beneath; purplish at fall; petiole slender, hairless, yellow, 2.5-6 cm long;

in spring; male catkins 6-8 cm;

acorn sub-globulous or ovoid, 1.2-2.5 cm, red brown, rarely striate; sessile or short-stalked; enclosed 1/2 or 1/3 by cup; cup half-round, deep, thin-edged, shiny, often with warted scales; maturing in 2 years;

hardy; prefers acidic soils; fast growing;

– Sub-genus Quercus, section Lobatae, Series Coccineae; – Different from other red oaks in the rounded sinuses and the large central lobe; – Hybridizes with Q.ilicifolia (= x robbinsii ), Q.velutina (= x fontana ), Q.palustris ;