Quercus L.
Oak
The genus Quercus, Latin for “oak,” includes some 400 species worldwide, of which about 90 are found in North America.
Identification: Most species of oaks can be differentiated by examining leaf shapes, but it isn’t easy, since leaf shape in many oaks is extremely variable. Even a single tree can bear a wide range of leaf shapes. Try to assess “average” shape before making a determination based on leaf shape. If acorns are available, their shape is another important identifying characteristic. Many oaks have restricted ranges, another clue.
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Some oak species. |
Online References:
Wikipedia (Quercus)
Wikipedia (Quercus)
References:
(Quercus) · 5/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) 
Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 5/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) Species not yet identified 
Oak (Quercus) · 11/11/2008 · Acorn Trail, Great Brook State Park, Carlisle, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 1½′ (84 × 56 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 4/23/2010 · Nashua Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 3″ (10 × 7.4 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 1/8/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3½″ (7.4 × 8.9 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 5/31/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (16 × 12 cm) Species not yet identified 
(Quercus) · 9/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) Species not yet identified 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fagales | Birch, she-oak, beech, walnut, bayberry, others |
| Family | Fagaceae | Beech familhy |
| Genus | Quercus | Latin for “oak” |
Quercus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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