overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)
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Quercus lyrata, the overcup oak, is an oak from the white oak group The common name, overcup oak, refers to its acorns which are mostly enclosed in the cupule. It is native to low-lying wetlands of the eastern and south-central United States, throughout the coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, inland to Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. There are historical reports of its presence in Iowa, but the species appears to have become extinct there. It is a slow-growing tree that often takes 25 to 30 years to mature. Its lifespan is estimated at 400 years.
The species is most commonly found in floodplains, wetlands and swamps. It prefers clay type soils, generally clay or silty clay. It has adapted to survive in poorly drained and heavily flooded areas. It can withstand continuous flooding for two or more growing seasons. This oak can be tested in northern zones and especially in southern Québec and Ontario.