Bur Oak

Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa

The typical Bur Oak is easy to identify by its leaf. They have a deep lobe about halfway up the leaf. Unfortunately Bur Oaks tend to hybridize with other oaks, White and Swamp White particularly, and the leaves aren't always typical. In my experience most of the oaks are like that. They look so simple to ID when you look at the books, but real life is a lot different. I need to get a DNA kit and take that with me in the field.