Overcup Oak is a medium to large oak of bottomland and swamp forests in the southeastern United States, named for its distinctive acorn that is almost entirely enclosed by a deep, bumpy, fringed cup — a feature unique among eastern oaks. It grows in frequently flooded lowlands and river swamps where few other oaks can survive, tolerating prolonged inundation. Its acorns float and remain viable for months, allowing water dispersal. The acorns are consumed by wood ducks and deer when accessible.
Habitat
Bottomland swamps, river floodplains, poorly drained flats, periodically flooded forests
Diet
Acorns eaten by wood ducks, mallards, deer, and squirrels; tolerates flooding for seed dispersal
How common
Common
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