FAGACEAE - - Beech Family

* Quercus acutissima Carruthers — Sawtooth Oak

* Not native to the United States

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) - A tree, to 20 m. tall, introduced from Asia and planted extensively across the SE, both as a horticultural specimen and for wildlife food enhancement. Occasional naturalized seedling may be encountered, and planted specimens may appear naturalized due to their scattered locations. Bud 4—7 mm long, brown, with slightly hairy scales. Acorn cup about 3 cm. wide, with a fringed rim of elongated scales, covering 2/3 of nut; nut 20—25 mm. long. Bark brown, furrowed. Leaves resemble those of Castanea, with awn-terminated marginal teeth; petioles 15—25 mm. long. A red oak.

Habitat:

Commonly cultivated as a suburban street tree and also widely planted in "wildlife food plots", rarely naturalizing; native of Japan. This species has been a popular recommendation for "wildlife plantings" in the recent past, and entire stands can be encountered in relatively remote areas, planted by federal and state land management agencies; why "wildlife" species in our area need more oak trees is somewhat mystifying!

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

The range of Quercus acutissima (Sawtooth Oak)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Quercus acutissima (Sawtooth Oak)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.