Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
Family: Fagaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows to 22 m high. The trunk can be 90 cm across. The trunk is short and forked. The crown is open and rounded. The leaves are 12-17 cm long. They are widest above the middle. They taper to a wedge shaped base. Each vein ends in a shallow rounded lobe. The leaves are shiny dark green on the upper surface and pale greyish-green underneath. There are many white hairs. The acorns are 20-30 mm long. They occur either singly or in pairs. The acorn stalks are 2-10 cm long. The tips of the scales of the cup curve backwards. The cup encloses about one third of the nut. The cup usually has a fringe along the edge.
There are about 600 Quercus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist flat land and along the edges of swamps. It can tolerate some shade. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 4-10. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Canada, North America, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
The acorns are leached to remove tannin then roasted and ground into meal and used for cakes, loaves and other foods.
Edible parts
Seeds, nuts
How it is grown
Trees can live for 200 years.
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
Quercus mollis Raf.; Quercus paludosa Petz. & G. Kirchn.; and others