Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Quercus bicolor
Swamp white oak
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
View all images. View all at PhytoImages.
Species Distribution
If map does not appear refresh browser Refresh
Click map to view & download detailed occurrence records

More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; crenate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; oblanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: catkin

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed along edges of swamps; wet flats; sloughs.

ILPIN Notes: Species maybe causes hayfever; fruit is edible. Seed company numbers: 2, 16, 28, 29. Wood is similar to white oak, but the lateral branches tend to persist and its lumber is usually knotty and of poor quality. Marshbirds and shorebirds eat food (i.e., acorns); terrestrial furbearers (esp. raccoons, tree-squirrels) eat food, such as acorns, bark, wood; also is a good den tree. Regarding waterfowl food value, this pertains especially to wood ducks. Regarding small non-game bird food value, this pertains especially to grackles, bluejays, brown thrashers, red-bellied woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers. Regarding small mammals food value, this pertains especially to eastern chipmunks, white-footed mice. Pistillate flowers are in groups of 2-4; leaves sometimes have a few shallow lobes and white, softly hairy on lower surface; bark of branches peels off in large, ragged, papery curls. Forms - seedlings, balled & burlapped, seeds.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal: bird, mammal
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: upland game birds: good
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 7
  • Chicago Area: 6

Post a Comment or Question About this Plant
Name

Email address (required)

Comment? Question? 300 word limit (required)




Enter the text code above (required)

Note: All submissions are moderated and only some are posted. Posted comments may be edited for length. An email address will not be posted, but it is required for communication with the site moderator. Comments focused outside of Illinois and neighboring states may be posted, but more attention will be given to Illinois centered information. Thanks for your interest.