black oak

Q. velutina is a large, deciduous tree to 25m tall with a globular, spreading crown, young shoots and buds covered in down and almost black outer bark on mature trees with yellow inner bark. Its large, irregularly-lobed leaves up to 30cm long are dark green above and paler below with tufts of down in the vein axils; foliage turns yellow, red and brown in the autumn. Flowers are a greenish-yellow colour and followed by solitary or paired acorns in autumn.