20. Quercus macrocarpa – Burr Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa
Nativity: North America
Interesting Info:
Macrocarpa is Latin for “large fruit,” and it isn’t wrong. The burr oak has the largest acorns of any North American oak. They are also excellent wildlife forage– black bears have even been documented tearing off branches to get to them. These large acorn crops only occur every few years, though. This is a special adaptation that allows the burr oak to overwhelm the acorn-predators with the sheer amount of acorns, which gives uneaten acorns a higher chance of survival. It is also one of the slowest growing oaks, at a maximum of one foot per year when it is young.
DBH: 2.5 inches