This tree is native to lowland wetlands in the eastern and south-central United States and in all the coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, inland as far as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois.
Its common name refers to its acorns that are mostly enclosed within the acorn cup. This is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree, growing as tall as 150 feet, with typical height of 80 feet. The trunk averages 30 inches in diameter. It is slow-growing and often takes 25 to 30 years to mature.
Overcup Oak occurs in wet bottomland forests bordering swamps and in valleys with floodplain forests bordering rivers. This tree is adapted to use seasonal floodwaters as a way to float its acorns to new sites for dispersal. The cap that covers each seed is very corky, which causes the acorns to float.
This species is unique among the White Oaks in that their acorns exhibit a prolonged dormancy. Normally, acorns of the various White Oaks germinate in the Fall, not long after they are shed from their parent trees. However, living in areas prone to flooding would make germinating at that time of year a risky endeavor. As such, Overcup Oak acorns lay dormant for months until environmental cues signal that enough time has passed.
The species is known to provide both food and habitat for a range of wildlife. Its acorns can be eaten by small mammals and birds such as squirrels and Wild Turkey. Trees in general create their own small habitats upon their surfaces and with their shade. Countless insects creep around on the bark. Many plants, including wildflowers, can only survive among the leaf litter on a shaded forest floor.
Overcup Oak’s Latin Name Quercus lyrata, and the species name lyrata, means “lyre-shaped” referring to the shape of this tree’s leaves.