99-09 The rock chestnut oak (Quercus montana) is native to the Appalachian Mountains. It became one of the dominant trees there following the demise of the American chestnut due to an imported fungus blight. Rock chestnut oak appears naturally in Illinois only on a few dry ridges in the Shawnee National Forest, but it is very well adapted to our area when planted and makes a tough, gorgeous shade tree. The Illinois champion tree is an old planted one at the historic farm in Lincoln Memorial Garden on Lake Springfield. This specimen, one of several you may see here, came from seed collected in the heart of the natural range on Stone Mountain, Georgia, from a hardy old tree growing in a crack on a rock ledge.
Location:
39.818105 N, 89.661721 W
Get walking directions here!
96-07 Rock chestnut oak (Quercus montana) is common in the Appalachians but very rare in Illinois, being found wild only in a few places in the Shawnee National Forest. Planted trees do well in our area, however, and the largest one known in Illinois can be seen in Springfield. It is a resilient species, and this one was grown from seed found in the sterile soil conditions of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. It is unusual for a native white oak in having dark, deeply fissured bark, similar to northern red oak and some of the European oaks.
Location: 39.826614 N, 89.658357 W
Map: Get walking directions here!
96-07b One of several rock chestnut oaks (Quercus montana) in Oak Ridge, this tree is common in the Appalachians and eastward but very rare in Illinois, being found wild only in a few places in the Shawnee National Forest. Planted trees do well in our area, however, and the largest one known in Illinois can be seen in Springfield. It has great fall color and is unusual for a native white oak in having dark, deeply fissured bark, similar to northern red oak and some of the European oaks. This is a resilient species, and this one was grown from seed found in the sterile soil conditions of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Location: 39.825723 N, 89.662531 W
Map: Get walking directions here!
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