1. By Egypt Crider 06/23/10 Elective Science Yellow Chestnut Oak Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm

2. Classification Kingdom: Plantae (Plants) Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledon) Order: Fagales (Flowering plants) Family: Fagaceae (Beech Family) Genus: Quercus (Oak) Species: Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm (Yellow Chestnut Oak) Also know as Chinkapin Oak and Chinquapin Oak

3. Shape, Form, and Type The Yellow Chestnut is a type of Deciduous tree Member of the Beech family Can grow anywhere from 70 to 80 feet in the wild It’s crown is narrow, rounded and spreads out over a fairly large range Figure 1: Yellow Chestnut Form

4. Bark Thin Flaky and coarse to the touch Light gray in color Breaks into narrow strips Similar to white oak bark Figure 2: Yellow Chestnut Bark

5. Twig and Leaf Twig Slender Orange brown color Start out green-red Buds cluster at branch tips Leaf Simple Alternate on branch Oblong in shape Gland tipped teeth 4 – 7 inches in length Dark green and shiny above Paler green below Figure 3: Leaves Figure 4: Twig

6. Bud, Flower, and Fruit Bud 1/8 inch long Pointed and cone shaped Chestnut brown color Frosted edges with individual scales Flower Males: Yellow-green hanging catkins, about 3 to 4 inches long Females: Can vary from green to red, small in leaf axils Found on the same tree Fruit Acorns found either lone or in pairs ½ covered by the cap Brown to nearly black Found on a short stalk

7. Figure 5: Yellow Chestnut Oak Buds Figure 6: YCO Flower Figure 7: Yellow Chestnut Oak Fruit

8. Habitat and Range The Yellow Chestnut Oak is mainly found in places with low slopes Wooded hills Dry cliffs Grows in alkaline soils and in well drained slopes of uplands The range includes Vermont and stretches across to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas and northern Florida Also found in Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio

9. Figure 8: Range of Yellow Chestnut Oak

10. Uses Used primarily for railroad ties Fence posts Fuel The sweet acorns are a food source for the wildlife and even humans Figure 9: Railroad Ties Figure 10: Wood Fire Figure 11: Squirrel Eating

11. References (Text) 2010. Quercus muehlenbergii (Yellow Chestnut Oak). Date Retrieved-06/24/10 http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_240c.html http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_240c.html 2010. Quercus muehlenbergii Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244 2010. Chinkapin Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/tree/C%20Oak.htmlhttp://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/tree/C%20Oak.html 2010. Quercus muehlenbergii Fact Sheet. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244 2010. Quercus muehlenbergii. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinquapin_oakhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinquapin_oak 1996. Forest Trees of Illinois by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Forest Resources. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 2010. Quercus muehlenbergii Englem. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/muehlenbergii.htm http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/muehlenbergii.htm

12. References (Pictures) Figure 1: Yellow Chestnut Form. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://porkyfarm.com/images/Quercus%20muehlenbergii%20%201.jpghttp://porkyfarm.com/images/Quercus%20muehlenbergii%20%201.jpg Figure 2: Yellow Chestnut Bark. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/q/hqumu--brlarge-tree12319.JPGhttp://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/q/hqumu--brlarge-tree12319.JPG Figure 3: Leaves. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://porkyfarm.com/images/Quercus%20muehlenbergii%20%207.jpghttp://porkyfarm.com/images/Quercus%20muehlenbergii%20%207.jpg Figure 4: Twig. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/tree/C%20Oak.htmlhttp://www.mtzion.k12.il.us/tree/C%20Oak.html Figure 5: Yellow Chestnut Oak Buds. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=244 Figure 6: YCO Flower. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_SB/0193/320/Quercus_muehlenbergii,Flower,I_SB19371.jpghttp://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_SB/0193/320/Quercus_muehlenbergii,Flower,I_SB19371.jpg Figure 7: Yellow Chestnut Oak Fruit. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/q/hqumu--fr16094.JPGhttp://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/q/hqumu--fr16094.JPG Figure 8: Range of Yellow Chestnut Oak. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Quercus_muehlenbergii_map.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Quercus_muehlenbergii_map.png Figure 9: Railroad Ties. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.therockpile.net/myphotos/67%20-%20railroad%20ties.jpghttp://www.therockpile.net/myphotos/67%20-%20railroad%20ties.jpg Figure 10: Wood fire. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://www.filetransit.com/images/screen/2e7d4a700524959cd010fb0dca6c360b_Fireplace_3D_Screensaver.jpg http://www.filetransit.com/images/screen/2e7d4a700524959cd010fb0dca6c360b_Fireplace_3D_Screensaver.jpg Figure 11. Squirrel Eating. Date Retrieved- 06/24/10 http://images.mooseyscountrygarden.com/uk-gardens/st-giles-churchyard/squirrels-and- snowdrops/autumn-squirrel-eating.jpghttp://images.mooseyscountrygarden.com/uk-gardens/st-giles-churchyard/squirrels-and- snowdrops/autumn-squirrel-eating.jpg