Blackjack Oak

The Blackjack Oak is small compared to other oaks. Its thick, black bark is deeply divided into rough, nearly square plates. It grows on dry, sandy to clay, upland soils and can be found with other oaks and with pines. As with the Southern Red Oak, the Blackjack Oak is a tree of the Old South. It occurs throughout the southeastern states from southeastern New York into Oklahoma and Texas. The specimen from which this species originally was described was found in the colony of Maryland, hence the specific Latin name, marilandica. In Ohio the Blackjack Oak is limited to a few south-central counties. Although the wood of this tree is hard and strong, it is of little commercial value. Sometimes it is used for rough construction, railroad ties, and for fuel.