WHITE OAK
(Quercus alba)
Leaves: Simple, alternate, 6″-9″ long, 5-9 rounded [lobes], not bristle-tipped, smooth above and below. Violet-purple in autumn.
Twigs: Red-gray, often with a grayish coating. Buds rounded, reddish brown, smooth, small; end bud about ⅛″ long, often with gray margins on the scales.
Fruit: A sweet acorn, ¾″-1″ long; cup bowl-like, enclosing ¼ of the nut; cup scales warty.
General: Bark gray, usually with shallow fissures and flat scaly ridges but occasionally roughly ridged without scales. A large and valuable tree. Wood uses similar to those of red oak; in addition, used extensively for liquid containers, including whiskey barrels.
CHESTNUT OAK
(Quercus montana)
Leaves: Simple, alternate, 4″-8″ long, thick; large rounded teeth, decreasing in size toward the leaf tips; dark green and smooth above, paler and occasionally [downy] beneath.
Twigs: Orange-brown to red-brown. Buds light brown, edges of scales lighter colored, sharp-pointed, ¼″-½″ long.
Fruit: An acorn, 1″-1½″ long. Cup thin, enclosing ⅓ of the shiny nut; cup scales knobby. Kernel moderately sweet.