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Arboretum
Stoevers Dam Park Trees
OAKS:
Oaks are classified into two groups: white oak and red oak. Those with pointed, bristle-tipped lobes fall within the red oak group and those with rounded, no bristle tips are white oak. For example, Pin oak. Red oak and Black oak are part of the "Red Oak" family. White Oak, Chestnut Oak, Bur Oak and Overcup Oak are in the "White Oak" family.
The oak group is the most important group of hardwoods found in North America. The oaks furnish more native timber annually than any other related group of broad-leaved trees. The sweet acoms of several oaks were used extensively for food by the Native Americans and continue to be a major source of food for wildlife.
The sturdy qualities and appearance of many of the oaks, together with their longevity, have made them the objects of admiration.
From the botanical standpoint, the species included in the genus Quercus is at least 200 to 300 or more, according to "Hortus Third", but the inclusion of all the known hybrids would increase these figures considerably.
There are 7 different species of oaks in Stoever's Memorial Arboretum. They include Red oak. White oak, Pin oak, Chestnut oak. Scarlet oak, Overcup oak and Bur oak, although not all of these are described in this booklet.
Oaks are a valuable timber and wildlife resource. The wood of many oaks is used for furniture, whiskey barrels, railroad ties, flooring, veneer, boat- building, firewood, and more.
Red Oak:
Leaves alternate, simple 5-8" long, 4-5" wide, with 7 to
11 lobes. Mature height 60-75 ft. with a spread of the same.
Fruit is solitary or paired acorn, 3/4 to 1 inch long covered with
a flat, thick saucer-like cup. Acorns are often eaten by deer, bear,
and many other mammals and birds.
Red oak is probably the most important and wide spread of northern oaks.
It is often used as an ornamental because of ease of transplanting
(negligible taproot), the fall color, and the symmetrical form.
Great for lawns, parks, golf courses and large open areas. A valuable
timber resource, the wood of Red oak is used for furniture, flooring,
millwork, railroad ties, veneer and firewood,
Red oaks are planted throughout the park in the following locations: The beginning of Memorial Trail on the north side. At the western intersection of Huber Trail and Memorial Trail near the large rock (inside Memorial Trail) are a variety of oaks for comparison, including Chestnut oak. Scarlet oak, White oak, and Red oak.
White Oak:
Leaves alternate, simple, 4-8.5 inches long and half as wide with 5-9 rounded lobes. Dark green to almost dark blue-green above and pale below. The light, ashy gray bark with vertically aligned blocks makes identification easy on older trees. Mature height is 80 to 100 ft. with a spread of 50-80 ft.
Fruit is an acorn, solitary or paired and narrower than that of Red oak. Nut is 3/4 to 1 inch long, oblong, with a light-brown, bumpy, bowl-like cup enclosing 1/4 of the nut. Acorns ripen in one year, unlike those of Red oak, which take two years.
Considered by some the most handsome of oaks, it is the state tree of Illinois. Commonly found in Pennsylvania's woods, the White oak is also a valuable timber re-source and wildlife food source. The sweet acoms were once crushed into flour and used for breads and baking by the Native Americans. The heavy wood is used for flooring, whiskey barrels and boat building. The famous Revolutionary War frigate "USS Constitution, Old Ironsides", was made of White oak.