Bur Oak

This tree is a deciduous tree in the Fagaceae family and is native to Missouri. The leaves are leathery, dark green and turn to yellow-brown in the fall. It has very large oval acorns that have fringed burry cups.

The Bur Oak is one of the most adaptable and durable trees in the oak family; it can survive in dry, nutrient poor soils, making it drought resistant. Its most distinguishing feature is its large, fringed cups, the largest of the native oaks. Although it is one of the slowest growing oaks, Bur Oaks can live for several hundred years. Due to its slow growth, its wood is quite durable and is often used for cabinetry and flooring.

The Bur Oak is a member of the subgenus of white oaks. These oaks are distinguishable from other oaks from their smooth lobe tips (no awns), their hairless leaf undersides, and their lighter, flakier bark. The acorns of white oaks are also less tannic, meaning that they require less processing to become safe and palatable. The Bur Oak’s acorns are especially prized in cooking and baking for their large acorns.