Complete the worksheet! Family: Beech (Fagaceae) Height: 50-80' Tree: tall straight trunk, distinct nearly to top, branches and twigs thick, nearly horizontal lower branches, upper branches ascending, broad round crown Leaf: lobed, 5-12" in length, alternately attached, 7-9 rounded lobes, last (terminal) lobe often the largest, margin lacking teeth, shiny dark green, leaves clustered near end of twigs Bark: dark gray, deeply furrowed, many ridges, scales Flower: green catkin, 1-3" long, composed of many tiny flowers, 1/8" wide Fruit: acorn, sweet and edible, 1-2" long, cap with hairy edge covers more than upper half of nut, green turning brown Fall Color: yellow or brown Origin/Age: native; 150-250 years Habitat: deep rich soils, drought and shade tolerant Range: throughout Interesting Facts: The largest eastern oak, found between prairie and woodland. Thick corky bark allows it to withstand fires. Member of the white oak group (leaves have rounded lobes, acorns mature in one season). Leaves highly variable but lobes are always rounded, with the terminal lobe the largest. Species name is Latin, with macro for "large" and carpa for "finger," referring to the large terminal leaf lobe. Heavy fruit crops every three to five years, depending on weather. Acorns often contain Nut Weevil larvae. Often has oak gall, a fleshy, swollen, round deformity caused by a kind of wasp larvae. Also called Blue Oak or Mossycup Oak. Explore the tree species of Central Park!