Re: Red oak ID from Topeka

[Mark Mayfield]

Hi Ryan,

I’m a bit perplexed. The buds and the acorn on the twig look like Quercus rubra to me. The buds look like they have a tuft of hairs towards the tip and they are reddish appearing to me. The 2 year twigs are greenish (more like shumard, but this can vary someone with the location on the tree).  The new twigs are have some red or yellowish coloration but not that classic red of Q. rubra. Overall, I was thinking it was Quercus rubra. The acorns: Could there be another tree shedding acorns, a true Quercus shumardii? The acorn on the twig looks like rubra, the loose ones with the light brown color remind me more of shumard. The leaf shape can be ignored but, likewise, I’m seeing a more rubra-like leaf. 

Well, anyway, there’s nothing that remotely resembles Quercus texana, and I’d need more information to determine the species but I’m leaning towards Q. rubra.

Best, Mark

Get Outlook for Mac

From: Ryan Armbrust <rarm...@ksu.edu>
Date: Monday, October 13, 2025 at 13:14
To: Mark Mayfield <mark...@ksu.edu>
Subject: Re: Red oak ID from Topeka

Sorry, the other photos didn’t attach the first time. 

Thanks,

Ryan Armbrust

Rural Forestry Program Coordinator

Kansas Forest Service

Alta Vista, KS

785-477-6413

https://www.kansasforests.org/rural_forestry/

"Sustaining and enhancing natural resources and communities through forestry and wildland fire management."

(Sent from a mobile device)

---

From: Mark Mayfield <mark...@ksu.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2025 1:12:00 PM
To: Ryan Armbrust <rarm...@ksu.edu>
Subject: Re: Red oak ID from Topeka

 

HI Ryan,

Is this all you received for pictures? Would be nice to see the bark, acorns, etc. Leaf bases and buds are not looking like shumard. Can you send me a picture of the acorns? That would be enough for me to positively identify it.

Best, Mark

Get Outlook for Mac

From: Ryan Armbrust <rarm...@ksu.edu>
Date: Monday, October 13, 2025 at 11:31
To: Mark Mayfield <mark...@ksu.edu>
Subject: Red oak ID from Topeka

I was asked to help ID a large red oak in a Topeka park, which is allegedly a Quercus texana. I have my doubts, and I suspect it's a Quercus shumardii or potentially a hybrid Q. shumardii X rubra. 

The five-sided bud really makes me think Shumard. 

Can you help ID this, as well?

I took some photos, and also some leaf, twig, acorn samples. I could drop off the samples at the herbarium if you'd like to take a look. 

Thanks,

Ryan Armbrust

Rural Forestry Program Coordinator

Kansas Forest Service

Alta Vista, KS

785-477-6413

https://www.kansasforests.org/rural_forestry/

"Sustaining and enhancing natural resources and communities through forestry and wildland fire management."

(Sent from a mobile device)