Plant
Water Oak
Quercus nigraAlso known as Possum Oak, Duck Oak, Punk Oak
Water oaks dominate damp bottomlands and coastal plains across the American South, rapidly growing into medium-sized trees with distinct, duckfoot-shaped leaves. Unlike many long-lived oak species, this red oak grows quickly, matures in just a few decades, and succumbs to heart rot relatively early in life. Its abundant small acorns serve as a vital winter food source for ducks, deer, wild turkeys, and squirrels.
DeciduousLowland TreeWildlife Food
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic
ThreatsFungal heart rot, wood-boring insects, and severe drought
HabitatsBottomland forests, stream banks, floodplains, and wet flatwoods
Life span60–80 years
Classification
- OrderFagales
- FamilyFagaceae
- GenusQuercus
- SpeciesQuercus nigra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Shape: Look for variable, spatulate leaves that resemble a duck foot pattern.
- Bark Texture: Inspect the smooth gray bark on young trees, which turns dark and furrowed with age.
- Acorn Identification: Observe the small, hemispherical acorns topped with a shallow, scaly cap.
Frequent Companion Homer Edward Price / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Seed Consumer Chuck Homler d/b/a FocusOnwWildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Rob John, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rob John · cc-by
Close Relative (c) hr_dragonfly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by hr_dragonfly · cc-by
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Ecosystem chain
The Forest Floor
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