Oak, Sawtooth
Category: Downtown Arboretum
Quercus acutissima
55 Trees
Details
Noteworthy Characteristics
Quercus acutissima, commonly called sawtooth oak, is a medium sized deciduous oak that is included in a section called the "Cerris" group, which has traits that are somewhat intermediate between the red and white oak sections. It typically grows 40-60’ tall with a broad-spreading, rounded crown. Gray to black bark develops corky ridging with age. It is native to China, Korea and Japan. Insignificant monoecious yellowish-green flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. Fruits are oval acorns (to 1” long), with spiny, scaly cups that extend to approximately 2/3 the acorn length. Acorn crops can be quite abundant and are an important source of food for wildlife. Oblong to lance-shaped, chestnut-like, glossy dark green leaves (to 7” long) have bristle-tipped marginal teeth at the terminal point of each parallel vein. Fall color is variable, ranging from an attractive golden brown to undistinguished pale brown.
Genus name comes from the classical Latin name for oak trees.
Specific epithet means exceedingly acute or sharp in reference to the sawtooth leaf margins.
For more information visit Missouri Botanical Garden HERE
