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Oak

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Oak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Species
List of Quercus species

The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of tree in the genus Quercus.

The genus is divided into two subgenera, or sections:

  • Leucobalanus, the white oaks
  • Erythrobalanus, the red oaks

The white oaks are further subdivided into the chestnut oaks and the rest of the white oaks, while the red oaks are further subdivided into the live oaks and the rest of the red oaks.

Oaks are found all over the world; many species are evergreen. A hardwood[?], oak is used commonly in furniture and flooring. The bark of the Quercus suber, or cork[?] oak, is used to produce wine stoppers (corks). This species grows in the Mediterranean Sea region, with Portugal, Spain, Algeria and Morocco producing most of the world's supply.

Of the North American oaks, the most prized of the red oak group for lumber, all of which is marketed as red oak regardless of the species of origin, is that of the northern red oak, Quercus rubra (aka Quercus borealis). The standard for the lumber of the white oak group, all of which is marketed as white oak, is the white oak, Quercus alba.

oak tree in summer

Some species of oak found in North America include:

Old World species of oak include:

above; bark of English oak (Quercus robur)

above; timber of English oak (Quercus robur)

See also; Trees of Britain, Trees of the world



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