Quercus rubra L.

Large deciduous tree (to  c. 25 m tall in cultivation);  bark rough and fissured.  Shoots dark reddish brown or brown, glabrous, with prominent lenticels.  Buds glabrous, without surrounding stipules;  apex sometimes hairy.  Petiole to 6 cm long.  Stipules soon caducous.   Lamina on adult shoots mostly 11–20 × 7–15 cm, ovate or ovate-oblong, with 3–5 pairs of lobes extending ⅓-⅔ distance from apex to midrib, slightly shining above, turning deep red before falling, usually glabrous, subcoriaceous, sometimes with a few brownish hairs in vein axils beneath;  lobes with aristate apex, usually with 1–4 aristate teeth, sometimes entire;  base cuneate.  ♂ catkins to  c. 8 cm long;  lower fls distant;  rachis with curly hairs;  perianth 1.7–2.3 mm long, with curly hairs on margin; stamens 3–5.  Fruiting peduncles 1–1.5 cm long, with 1–(2) fertile frs; frs reaching maturity in second year.  Cup 1.5–2 cm diam., shallow; scales ovate, appressed, glabrous or minutely puberulent.  Acorn 2–2.5 cm long, ovoid,  c. 1/4 enclosed by cup.  

[From:  Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.