Did you know that over 30 species of oak trees (Quercus) can be found in North Carolina? Worldwide, there are more than 450 different species!
I had been surprised earlier this summer by Sawtooth Oak and Water Oak. Their leaf shape was not what I was expecting for an oak tree. Their acorns caught my attention, and that’s what got me curious about the diversity of the oak species. This fall I started looking for oak leaves to see how many different species I could find here in Morrisville. Below is a collection of leaf pictures that I have so far.
Most of the leaves had already fallen on the ground. Without the tree bark or the acorn, it can be a challenge to identify the specific oak species. I found a field guide to native oaks in the eastern United States written by the USDA that was very helpful. You can find it here.
I haven’t been able to definitively identify all of these leaves yet. If you know what they are, please let me know!
