Plant · GBIF taxon 2879328
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
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
Not available
ThreatsFungal heart rot, wood-boring insects, and severe drought
HabitatsBottomland forests, stream banks, floodplains, and wet flatwoods
Life span60–80 years
Size / weightNot available
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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