This tree is medium in size reaching 50 to 60 ft. in height and 2 to 3 ft. in dbh. It also has an irregular crown and a limby bole.

Leaves:
 Arrangement: alternate

 Shape: 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes; sun leaves have deep sinuses and shade leaves have very shallow sinuses

 Margin: entire

 Texture: thick; dark green and glabrous above; tomentose beneath

 Variation: pinnate

The bark is thick, grayish-black in color and is deeply furrowed vertically with horizontal breaks. The inner bark is orange.

The twigs are brown in color, stout and glabrous. The buds are long and sharp with a grayish pubescence.

The flowers are borne on catkins and are staminate. The fruit is an acorn that is long, ovid and 5/8 to 3/4 inches in length. The cap of the acorn has loose reddish-brown scales. It is also noted the the acorns mature in 2 years.

This species has characteristic oak leaves, produced mast every 2 years, and has long terminal buds.

This species occurs from Maine to Minnesota, south to eastern Texas and east to Florida.

This species has an intermediate tolerance and occurs on mesic to dry uplands.

The wood is sold as “red oak” and used for furniture and flooring. The acorns are eaten by a variety of mammals and birds. Notable species include: wild turkeys, squirrels, and white-tailed deer.