Quercus lyrata Walter. Subgenus: Quercus. Section: Quercus. Subsection: Prinoideae. Common name: Overcup Oak. Phenology: Mar-May; Sep-Oct (of the same year). Habitat: Seasonally rather deeply and frequently flooded soils of floodplains of the Coastal Plain, less commonly in seasonally flooded swamps in Triassic basins in the lower Piedmont, and rarely in upland depression swamps of the Piedmont (developed over clays weathered from mafic rocks) and Coastal Plain. Of our oaks, Q. lyrata tolerates the wettest habitats, both in terms of depth and duration of flooding. Distribution: Primarily a species of the Southeastern Coastal Plain: DE south to Panhandle FL, west to e. TX and se. OK, north in the inland to w. TN, s. IN, s. IL, and se. MO.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NS, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, (basionym)
Links to other floras: = Quercus lyrata - FNA3
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
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Height: up to 80 ft.
plant sale text: Native to poorly-drained lowlands, this southeastern oak has gained popularity in recent years as a street tree. Like many other bottomland tree species, overcup oak tolerates wet, poorly drained soil conditions as well as much leaner, drier sites. The distinctive cap of the acorn of Q. lyrata covers most of the nut. The narrow, lobed leaves of this species are also readily identifiable. The genus Quercus supports up to 518 species of lepidoptera.
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native range: eastern United States