Rock Chestnut Oak
Quercus Montana Willd
By Egypt Crider
06/23/10
Elective Science
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Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledon)
Order: Fagales (Flowering plants)
Family: Fagaceae (Beech Family)
Genus: Quercus (Oak)
Species: Quercus Montana Willd(Rock Chestnut
Oak)
Sometimes referred to as Mountain Oak, Rock
Oak or Chestnut Oak
Unsettled debate over scientific name: Quercus
Montana or Quercus prinus
Classification
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Figure 1: Rock Chestnut Oak
form
The Rock Chestnut
Oak is a medium
sized tree
Can reach 50 to 70
feet in height
Crown is dense and
broad in a 50 foot
spread
Species of Oak
Part of the Beech
Family
Shape, Form and Type
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Light/medium gray
shade
Distinctive with
deep, narrow ridges
Ridges triangular in
cross sections
As tree ages, it will
keep the light gray
color of its bark
Bark
Figure 2: Bark of Rock
Chestnut Oak
Twig
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Twigs of Rock Chestnut
Oak are stout
Hairless
Orange-brown
Branches build up thick
bark in a short amount
of time
End in long, pointed
buds
Twig and Leaf
Leaf
The leaves are simple
 Alternate
 From 4 to 6 inches in
length
 Oval in shape
 Shiny green on top
 Paler on underside
 Rounded teeth
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Figure 4: Twig
Figure 3: RCO Leaves
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Bud
◦ Light brown color
◦ Sharp pointed
◦ Cone shaped
• Flower
• Flowers of Male Rock Chestnut Oaks are green-yellow catkins,
2-4 inches in length
• Females are red in color and come in spikes
 Fruit
◦ Oval acorn 1 to 1 ½ inches in length
◦ Tea-cup, scaly cap
◦ Shiny
Bud, Flower and Fruit
Figure 7: RCO Fruit
Figure 5: Buds
Figure 6: Rock Chestnut Oak
Flower (Male)
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Rock Chestnut Oak is
commonly found on
dry, rocky soils
Mainly in the
Appalachian area
Humid climate
Best growth on well
drained soil near
streams
Native range extends
from Maine through
New York to southern
Ohio, Michigan,
Indiana, Illinois,
Georgia and Alabama
Habitat and Range
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Rock Chestnut Oak wood is very strong and hard
Similar to that of White Oak
Used for lumber
Beams
Furniture
Planking
Acorns are eaten by the wildlife
Figure 9: Chestnut Oak
Desk
Uses
Figure 10: RCO Ceiling
Beams
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2010. Quercus prinus. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_Oak
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2010. Ohio Trees- Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/trees/oak_chestnut/tabid/5391/Default.aspx
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2010. Quercus prinus Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=76
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2009. Chestnut Oak PA DCNR. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/commontr/chestnut.htm
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1997-2010. Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/oak-chestnut.htm
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2010. Quercus prinus L. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/prinus.htm
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1997-2010. Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.dof.virginia.gov/trees/oak-chestnut.htm
References (Text)
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Figure 1: Rock Chestnut Oak Form. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10 http://www.avtreefarm.com/Trees/oak_chestnut.jpg
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Figure 2: Bark of Rock Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/23/10
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/q/qupr2-brlarge13676.htm
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Figure 3: RCO Leaves. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://www.ibiblio.org/openkey/intkey/images/Quercus_montana_leaves01.jpg
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Figure 4: Twig. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/q/qupr2-tw16523.htm
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Figure 5: Buds. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=76
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Figure 6: Rock Chestnut Oak Flower (Male). Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/q/qupr2-flmale39437.htm
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Figure 7: RCO Fruit. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/oak_chestnut/fruit.jpg
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Figure 8: Range of Rock Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/prinus.htm
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Figure 9: Chestnut Oak Desk. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/NationalBusinessFurniture/DMI-7665-55_zom?$medium$
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Figure 10: RCO Ceiling Beams. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10
http://www.royblackman.co.uk/USERIMAGES/POOL%20VAULTED%20CEILING.JPG
References (Pictures)