Quercus nigra Linnaeus. Subgenus: Quercus. Section: Lobatae. Subsection: Phellos. Water Oak, Paddle Oak. Phen: Apr-May; Sep-Nov (of the second year). Hab: Bottomland forests, especially on levees or second terraces where flooded infrequently and for short periods, less commonly on mesic slopes, but also now widely distributed and common as a "weed tree" in upland situations. Dist: Primarily a species of the Southeastern Coastal Plain: s. NJ south to s. FL and west to e. TX and se. OK, north in the interior to se. TN, c. TN, w. and sc. KY (Clark et al. 2005), se. MO, and e. OK.

ID notes:Seedlings and fire sprouts of this species are highly variable in leaf morphology; see discussion at end of generic treatment.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy: = Ar, C, Fl2, FNA3, G, GW2, Il, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Hunt (1990); = Quercus aquatica Walter; > Quercus microcarya Small – S, S13; > Quercus nigra L. – S, S13; > Quercus nigra L. var. heterophylla (Aiton) Ashe – F; > Quercus nigra L. var. nigra – F

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FACW

Heliophily: 5