# blackjack oak (*Quercus marilandica*) The blackjack oak is a sturdy tree that grows in dry, sandy areas. Its leaves are unique and can turn beautiful colors in the fall, making it a lovely sight in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Forests ![blackjack oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blackjack_and_little_bluestem.png&width=800) Photo: DeepFork ( talk ) ( Uploads ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blackjack_and_little_bluestem.png) ## Appearance The blackjack oak has distinctive dark, blocky bark and stiff, leathery leaves that are often wider towards the tip with three shallow lobes, giving them a duck-foot shape. Its overall form is often irregular and scraggly, sometimes with reddish-brown fall foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Did you know its strong wood was once used to make fence posts and charcoal? - Some people call its uniquely shaped leaves 'duck-foot' leaves because of their wide, three-lobed tip! - The acorns of the blackjack oak have a fuzzy cap that covers more than half of the nut! - This hardy tree can often be found growing in poor, dry soils where other trees struggle to survive. ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Blackjack oak has a deep taproot that helps it reach groundwater, allowing it to survive long dry spells and poor soils. - **Fire Fighter:** Its incredibly thick, dark bark protects the blackjack oak from damage during ground fires that sweep through its habitat. - **Sun Shield:** Blackjack oak has tough, leathery leaves that are designed to reduce water loss, helping it thrive in intense sun. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-1500 cm - **Spread:** 400-1000 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — eats blackjack oak acorns - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses leaves and eats acorns - **Depends on:** [Banded Hairstreak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/banded-hairstreak) (*Satyrium calanus*) — larvae feed on oak leaves - **Symbiotic with:** [Fly Agaric](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fly-agaric) (*Amanita muscaria*) — mycorrhizal fungi partner ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's sharp acorns, but enjoy looking at its beautiful leaves! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify blackjack oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is blackjack oak? 500-1500 cm ### How wide does blackjack oak spread? 400-1000 cm ### When does blackjack oak bloom? Spring ### Is blackjack oak edible? No ### Is blackjack oak toxic? Mild ### What is blackjack oak's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is blackjack oak pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Darlington Agency](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/darlington-agency) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve - [Bastrop State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bastrop-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [Double Trouble State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/double-trouble-state-park) — New Jersey, US · State Park [View all places to see blackjack oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blackjack-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Blackjack Oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blackjack-oak)