Tall tree with irregularly divided trunk with spreading, horizontal branches, reaching 80 to 100 ft. in height and able to live to 300 years. Leaves are deeply lobed.

BUDS: Multiple, small, clustered end buds that are red-brown, blunt, and hairless.

TWIGS: Hairless; gnarly branches.

BARK: Flaky--shallow fissures creating long and loose, broad, scaly plates that readily flakes off; whitish to light gray.

HABITAT: Dry or moist woods.

RANGE: Quebec and Ontario, south to the Gulf of Mexico, west to Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas.

USES: Most important and valuable timber tree of oaks, used for shipbuilding, making barrel staves, baskets, cabinets, railroad ties and fences, largely used as fuel.