This is the most common "red oak" in the Midwest and eastern United States—although, broadly speaking, "red oaks" in general make up a large group of species within Quercus, the genus for oaks. In this broad sense, red oaks have leaves with bristle tips (tiny little points at the tips of the lobes) and acorns that fall every two years, while "white oaks" (in the broad sense) lack bristle tips and have acorns that fall every year. Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is fairly variable within its range, especially when it comes to its bark, and is probably best identified by its leaves, acorns, and buds.

Many mushrooms are associated with northern red oaks—too many to make a comprehensive list. Mycorrhizal species include many species of Amanita, more boletes than you can imagine, Cortinarius torvus, Hemileccinum subglabripes, many species of Lactarius, Leccinum albellum, innumerable species of Russula (including Russula tenuiceps), species of Tylopilus, and many others. Saprobes decomposing the wood of northern red oak include Inonotus dryadeus, Laetiporus cincinnatus, and Stereum ostrea.

northern red oak has a spreading crown

acorns are large, with very shallow cups

young bark is shallowly fissured in northern areas . . .

. . . even "striped" in the southern Midwest

mature bark is fissured to ridged but not deeply furrowed

buds, best viewed in the fall, are reddish brown and smooth

leaves have sinuses that are cut about halfway to the mid-vein, with bristle tips at the ends of the lobes

upper sides are dark green to yellowish green

shade leaves near the bottom of the tree are often large and less lobed

young spring leaves

a tiny sapling

catkins are produced in spring

Kuo, Michael (June, 2022). Quercus rubra (northern red oak). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.com website: www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/quercus_rubra.html

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