Cherrybark Oak
Arbor walk #71, TreeKeeper ID #3472
Cherrybark Oak is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree native to the Southern US including the southeast corner of Missouri. The Cherrybark Oak looks very similar to another Missouri native, Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata). So much so, that this tree was mislabeled as a Southern Red Oak for many years in the Arboretum. This confusion is common since Cherrybark Oak was previously classified as a subspecies of Southern Red Oak.
This specimen is likely over 100 years old and predates all development on the South 40. This species is commonly found in moist bottomland environments, and so this tree presumably dates back to the time when the South 40 was actually a swamp and has survived many bouts of construction on the 40 over the years. It has been struck by lightning twice, which is why a large portion of the bark is damaged. The lightning boiled the cambium which resulted in separation of the bark.
The Cherrybark Oak is a member of the subgenus of red oaks. These oaks are distinguishable from other oaks from their awns (soft bristles) at the ends of leaf lobes, their orange hairs on the leaf underside at vein intersections, and their dark, ridged bark.
| Common Name | Cherrybark Oak |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Quercus pagoda |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |