Tree of the Week: Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

The arboretum has certainly been full of color this past week. Just to make sure nobody could ignore it, gusts of wind have thrown down multi-hued showers of leaves onto the lawns and paths. Our tree of the week is a stand-out specimen in this autumnal display; the black oak (Quercus velutina) has turned red-orange.

Our tree of the week is growing in full-sun, at the bottom of a slope, near the concrete drainage. Specifics about this tree's planting date and acquisition are unknown, but it was certainly planted after the completion of the Fitness Center. This upper limit for age makes the tree less than 20 years old. No evidence of acorns this year.

This black oak has an upright trunk, a pyramidal form, and a dark trunk. From a distance, the leaves appear to be of one uniform red-orange color.

But upon closer inspection the leaves appear more brown.

These leaves are still in transition from green to autumn shades.

On one leaf we see red, orange, yellow, and green. 

Black oak leaves have shallow lobes and bristle-tips.

Consumer warning: your leaf size may vary.

Underneath, the leaves are fuzzy along the midrib.

The pointy buds are fuzzy, too.

The bark of this specimen is almost black.

Simple property damage: someone, most likely (and hopefully) a squirrel, has been gnawing on the black oak sign. 

You can find more photos of the arboretum's black oaks here.

For more information about this species consult the following:
Fire Effects Information System (US Forest Service)
Virginia Tech Dendrology
NC State University