Here we have the Chinquapin Oak, or Quercus muehlenbergii, also known as the yellow oak. Though not very common in the Midwest, it is prominent in the lower Wabash Valley. This tree can reach a great size in favorable soils but is typically medium-sized, ranging from 60 to 80 feet in height, with a lifespan of 400 years. It grows best in rich, deep soils and is often found on dry banks of rivers and streams. Feel the scaly, ashy gray bark, which is unique for its ability to be easily rubbed off by hand. The leaves vary in shape and size, usually coarsely toothed and widest just above the middle. Touch the dark green, smooth tops and the lightly hairy, pale undersides. Chinquapin Oaks produce small, sweet acorns that turn nearly black when ripe, with a thin, warty cap covering almost half the nut.
