White Oak
There are two main groupings of oak trees, the red oak and white oak. White oak is an umbrella term that encompasses many individual trees.
Commercial Value:
We rate white oak trees as first class, as they are currently in high demand on the markets. White oak is used to make flooring, furniture, timber frame buildings, and veneer. Alcohols such as wine, brandy and whiskey are commonly aged in barrels made of white oak.
Benefit to Forest:
White oaks produce acorns, which becomes food for many forest-dwelling creatures such as squirrels, deer and mice. The acorns have a high nutritional value due to their high fat content.
White Oak Group
There are key features you can use to tell a white oak species apart from a red oak. White oak leaves are mostly rounded and the nuts are sweeter than that of a red oak. They germinate in fall and the acorns mature within one year of flowering. The bark is mostly scaly as compared to red oak bark, which is mostly furrowed. Common white oak species you will find in Indiana include swamp white oak, over-cup oak, bur oak, chestnut oak, chinkapin oak, and post oak.