I followed that Key thing all the way to it's conclusion for this tree & ended up with Q. coccinea but it doesn't apparently occur in Texas sooooooooooo...... It sure looked right to me though!
The USDA has it in LA but that's where it ends.
http://plants.usda.gov/core/pr...

Hmm. It's not unheard of for me to find plants growing here that aren't listed in Texas but nearby, east to LA or north in OK so it is possible.

Thank you Ann, I'll check it out.

flaflwrgrl said:I followed that Key thing all the way to it's conclusion for this tree & ended up with Q. coccinea but it doesn't apparently occur in Texas sooooooooooo...... It sure looked right to me though!
The USDA has it in LA but that's where it ends.
http://plants.usda.gov/core/pr...

I just followed the key to #14, from there I'm not sure. Does the following apply?

Terminal buds large and covered entirely with thick blond hair (velutinous), lower leaf surface with yellowish pubescence which may cover the entire surface or be primarily in the vein axils

If it does, then it suggests Quercus velutina. The undersides of the leaves which Christine posted appear to have "yellowish pubescence". We really need to have a close shot of the terminal buds as well.

http://bioimages.vanderbilt.ed...

The alternative step for #14 takes you to #15, but does it apply?

Terminal buds without blond hair or hairy only on the upper half, lower leaf surface without yellowish pubescence

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dend...

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dend...

#14, Quercus velutina (I think) looks like the closest match right now. This one may take more time to know for sure. I'll see what other info I can gather.

wildflowers said:Hmm. It's not unheard of for me to find plants growing here that aren't listed in Texas but nearby, east to LA or north in OK so it is possible.

Thank you Ann, I'll check it out.

Yes, plants don't exactly say, "oh, this is the state line; I must not put roots down in Texas, I have to stay in LA."
Regardless, if Quercus velutina looks like the closest match right now then run with it as far as you can & see where it leads.

Well it's been awhile and I just want to say, I'm thoroughly confused!

I'm starting to lean towards this one being a Red oak (like Frostweed said from the beginning) but which one gets confusing (Like Janet said).

It could be Quercus texana buckley (which has a synonym name of - Q. nuttallii), or whatever the accepted name is, that gets confusing too!

The USDA plant site - http://plants.usda.gov/core/pr...

The leaves do not appear to have any significant hair in the leaf margins, maybe a slight fuzz. The ripe acorns and terminal buds are hairless.

Okay thought I was ready with images but I'll be back.

Also meant to say, the overall spread of the tree appears to resemble images of Quercus texana buckleyi. Fall is getting close,so I will be looking to note the change in leaf color.

Ripe acorn


More pics

Another possibility for this one? http://www.onlineplantguide.co...
(Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia, Cherry Bark Oak)

Not sure if the above is a synonym to this one - Quercus pagoda?
Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)

This tree identifying business has proved to be very difficult for me. Last fall I wanted to get pictures of the fall color and acorns but never did get around to it. We had heavy rains that made for an undesirable walk to get to them. By the time I made my way, the leaves were on the ground, way too many varieties all mixed together. Piles of leaves

Anyway, here's some pics of the new growth for this tree. @JRsbugs I'm thinking maybe your very first guess is the right one. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcree... I like this site. Side note: It says the older bark turns black with deep furrows, which could describe my tree.

Taken last month~


The tree on the left ~

So far Quercus velutina looks good, the bark certainly looks black!

I would feel happier if you could check the inside of the bark. It does have horizontal breaks.

Bark: At first gray and smooth, becoming thick and very rough, nearly black and deeply furrowed vertically with horizontal breaks. The inner bark is yellow-orange and very bitter tasting

Twig: Stout and red-brown to gray-green, usually glabrous but rapidly growing twigs may be hairy; buds are very large (1/4 to 1/2 inch long), buff-colored, fuzzy, pointed and distinctly angular.

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dend...

There's links to photos of the buds on the following link, the photo you posted last year of buds look similar. Could you get some closer shots of the buds?

http://woodyplants.wikidot.com...

More photos, including the fuzz on the back of leaves.

http://www.discoverlife.org/20...

This bark does look exactly like mine. http://woodyplants.wdfiles.com... I wasn't sure how to check the bark... but I'm glad you didn't ask me to taste it to see if it's bitter.

I tried to get a picture of the buds... not sure if this will help so I will go try again but in the meantime, here it is:


The back of the leaves feel fuzzy but I didn't get a picture. I think maybe it will show more once the leaves mature a bit?

Here's a not-so-good picture of the front of the leaves: (My camera isn't taking consistent pictures since I dropped it BUT I do see a new camera in my near future.)


Just because ~ praying mantis eggs. Looks like something got to it.


Now for the most exciting part of my inspection of the tree!! Look what I found! Looks like Sassafras albidum which I am so happy to find. It's been on my wish list forever!!

The bark is spot on! I really think it is Q. velutina, as difficult as Oaks might be.

Hey lucky you, Sassafras albidum has very interesting leaves!

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

Thank you for all of your highly regarded help, Janet. I also feel confident this one is Q. velutina.

Yes, Sassafras has such interesting leaves. I'm still smiling about the find.

...Oaks do have a distinctive taste...

I did pull a small piece of the bark away but it was wet, which makes it look darker. I could see a bit of orange marbling through.

I haven't tasted an oak other than the delicious smoke flavor it imparts to BBQ. lol. For some reason Euell Gibbons popped into my head, although he ate pine trees and stalked the wild asparagus.