Leaves look like a variation of the local q falcata. They are also slightly reminiscent of some q marilandica but this is a tree that is very uncommon in the nursery trade.

Q pagoda can have very similar leaf morphology to q falcata and has bark similar to cherry. One of those two would be my best guess!

What a mystery indeed. Can't wait till the experts chime in with their ID's

John

Thanks john my brother and i are amature/professional horticulturists and it is not very common for both of us to be stumped I hope more members chime in on this one. AND you seem pretty expert on your oaks to me!

Haha, thanks :-)

I will say I have some q falcata with identical leaves to your tree but the bark on mine is quite a bit different and becomes very ridged/furrowed on the lower portion of the trunk at a similar caliper as the one you have shown as well as being much darker in color. Is there any way you could remove the wrap around the lower trunk and post a pic? I wonder if some of my trees with this anomalous leaf morphology are actually q falcata x marilandica hybrids.

The 90* branch emergence on your tree is also in line with q marilandica branch crotches.

What oak trees did you order that included this one?

This post was edited by j0nd03 on Tue, Jun 11, 13 at 14:28

Hmm my brother says it came in a shipment of Q pagoda but the leaves on this tree are clearly different from the other trees. So maybe it IS just Q pagoda? :0)

It very well could be!

Does the bark on your mystery tree look similar to the other trees in the order with more typical leaf morphology of the species?

This post was edited by j0nd03 on Tue, Jun 11, 13 at 17:15

The bark is different from the other trees in the order. We are wondering if these may have been seed grown at the nursery and if this tree may be some sort of hybrid as you suggested. Oh and by the way I am in SW MI and the mystery tree is S of nashville at a big commercial landscape company. I am not sure whether or not this tree is earmarked for a job or not yet. Usually they order on a need be basis so it is probably destined for some commercial planting in the nashville or murfreesboro area.

could be a hybrid, but also look at Cherrybark oak - Q.falcata var. pagodifolia.

Just looking at the bark -- it does look like black cherry bark.

Definitely Q. falcata. I have many on my property.

Lucky_p, I thought cherrybark oak was given species status. Is it still considered a subs. in some circles? The mature bark is so different from falcata...

John