Swamp Chestnut Oak

The Swamp Chestnut Oak is a medium-size to large tree that grows up to over 100 feet tall, with a trunk to over 6 feet in diameter, and a thick, scaly, loose, light-gray bark.  The leaves are deciduous, somewhat oval, and 4 to 9 inches long; they are short-pointed at the tip, tapering to rounded at the base, with numerous shallow lobes or rounded teeth along the edges, dark green, smooth above and softly hairy beneath.  Leafstalks are 1 inch long.  The acorns are large and usually produced singly or in clusters of 2 or 3.  There are 85 acorns per pound.Swamp chestnut oak acorns are eaten by white-tailed deer, wild hogs, wild turkey, black bear, squirrels, and chipmunks.  The acorns are also eaten by cows.  The wood is used in many kinds of construction; for agricultural implements, wheels, veneer, boards, fence posts, tight cooperage, baskets and fuel.