The Chinkapin Oak tree,
Quercus muehlenbergii, is the limestone equivalent
of the chestnut oak, occuring as a dominant species on
rocky alkaline uplands. This Oak tree is also sometimes
commonly called yellow chestnut oak.
Chinkapin oak is a medium sized
deciduous oak of the white oak group that typically
grows 40-60’ tall with an open globular crown. Fruits
are small oval acorns with scaly cups that extend to
approximately 1/2 the acorn length. Acorns are valued
food for a variety of wildlife.
Chinkapin Oak trees have
narrow, shiny green leaves that have coarse marginal
teeth. Leaves somewhat resemble the leaves of chestnut (Castanea)
whose nut is sometimes called a chinquapin, hence the
common name of this oak.
Its acorn is sweet and edible.
The thin leaves provide light shade. Fall color is
variable, but it usually displays shades of yellow and
brown. Chinkapin is not used extensively as an
ornamental tree, although it is quite tolerant of
tougher sites.
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