# bur oak (*Quercus macrocarpa*) The bur oak is a big tree with strong branches and large leaves. It can live for hundreds of years and provides homes for many animals. Its acorns are a tasty treat for squirrels and other critters! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests ![bur oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_macrocarpa_USDA.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_macrocarpa_USDA.jpg) ## Appearance The bur oak has deeply furrowed, ridged bark that can resemble cork. Its leaves are distinctly lobed, with a narrow waist near the center. The most unique feature is its large acorn, often half-covered by a fringed, bur-like cup. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Bur oak trees can live for over 400 years, some even reaching 1000! - Its extra-large acorns often float, helping them spread far away by water! - Native Americans once used bur oak acorns to make flour for bread and other foods. - The fringed cap of a bur oak acorn looks like it's wearing a tiny, fuzzy hat! ## Special abilities - **Fire Shield:** Bur oak has super thick, furrowed bark that protects it like armor from wildfires, helping it survive. - **Giant Acorn Launcher:** Its huge acorns are packed with food, giving baby trees a big energy boost to grow and reproduce. - **Deep Root Anchor:** A long taproot helps bur oaks stand strong against high winds and find water deep underground to survive. - **Flood Tolerator:** Bur oak can survive with its roots underwater for weeks, adapting to temporary floods for survival. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-4000 cm - **Spread:** 1500-3000 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 the bur oak's large acorns - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses foliage and eats acorns - **Eats:** [Luna Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/luna-moth) (*Actias luna*) — larvae feed on bur oak leaves - **Shelter:** [Barred Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barred-owl) (*Strix varia*) — nests in cavities of mature bur oaks ## 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. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and roots to avoid tripping or getting hurt. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bur 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 bur oak? 2000-4000 cm ### How wide does bur oak spread? 1500-3000 cm ### When does bur oak bloom? Spring ### Is bur oak edible? No ### Is bur oak toxic? Mild ### What is bur oak's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is bur oak pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Chadwick Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chadwick-arboretum) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [Irvington Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/irvington-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve - [Palisades State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palisades-state-park) — South Dakota, US · State Park - [Roosevelt Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roosevelt-park-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Tennessee Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tennessee-aquarium) — Tennessee, US · Zoo [View all places to see bur oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bur-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: [Bur Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bur-oak)