A tree fell in Rabun County - what could it be?

[Lanier_Lurker]

My brother in law had a decent size oak fall on his mountain cabin on the shores of Seed Lake on the Tallulah River.

He snapped a few pics and brought me some leaves and asked me to identify it for him.  I've got it narrowed down to either Northern Red or Black oak (and I'm leaning towards Northern Red).  But the badly hollowed bole is more common with Black oak from what I have heard in this forum.

That said, I think the obvious silver streaking in the upper trunk points to Northern Red.  The lower trunk is too covered with moss and algae to see any streaking.



Here are a few pictures.

[Mike_Barcaskey]

if those are the two choices, it is NRO
However I don't know where Seed Lake on the Tallulah River is and there maybe oak species in the area I am not familiar with

[Mike_Barcaskey]

Black Oak - sinuses between the lobes go halfway to the mid-rib on lower leaves, deeper on top leaves

NRO - sinuses between lobes extend half-way to the mid-rib or less

also on the black oak the the inner bark is orange and very bitter tasting

[Lanier_Lurker]

Rabun County is in the extreme northeastern corner of Georgia.

Seed Lake is sandwiched between Lakes Burton and Rabun on the Tallulah River, which is in the headwaters of the Savannah River basin.

The elevation at this mountain cabin is about 1800' - but there are 2600' elevations within a few miles.  This area would correctly be considered in "the Georgia Mountains".

if those are the two choices, it is NRO
However I don't know where Seed Lake on the Tallulah River is and there maybe oak species in the area I am not familiar with

I'm not certain that these are the only two choices, but given the bark, leaves, and location I don't know what else it could be.

[Dodgy Loner]

You narrowed it down quite well, LL.  Based on the leaf shape and the location, those are the only two species it could be.  Based on the white streaks on the bark and the shallowness of the lobes, I would say that's a northern red oak.  I try to stay away from unreliable identification characteristics, such as hollowness, holding onto dead branches, poor form, etc.  Those seem to be influenced by site as much as by genetics.

[WDH]

Good going, LL.

I also think that it is Northern Red Oak.  Definitely not Scarlet (you know that one well by now :D.)

[Lanier_Lurker]

You narrowed it down quite well, LL.  Based on the leaf shape and the location, those are the only two species it could be.  Based on the white streaks on the bark and the shallowness of the lobes, I would say that's a northern red oak.  I try to stay away from unreliable identification characteristics, such as hollowness, holding onto dead branches, poor form, etc.  Those seem to be influenced by site as much as by genetics.

Yes, the quality of this site is difficult for me (the untrained amateur) to ascertain.

You can tell by the heavy algae covering the lower bole that the humidity in the area is very high.  This is right in the middle of the wettest part of Georgia, at least in terms of rainfall.  This area is almost like a rain forest.  Also, there is a feeder creek to the lake that is within 100' of this tree.

For northern red oak, could it possibly be a little too wet or poorly drained?

[Brian Beauchamp]

For northern red oak, could it possibly be a little too wet or poorly drained?

...as well as black oak...most likely why it had heart rot and fell over. Neither are found on wet sites very often. I'd say NRO since I cannot see any yellow-orange layer in the cambium of the fallen tree. My best guess is that the site has changed since that tree started growing. When was the lake impounded?

[SwampDonkey]

Might possibly been a converted mill pond, like where my uncles camp was at. And about 200 others shoulder to shoulder.

[Lanier_Lurker]

The tree and cabin are well up the slope from the impounded water.  Both the course and flow rate of the feeder creek I mentioned that is near this tree (Crow Creek I think) has not changed since the lake was impounded in 1926.

Since this thread was started, I have been back up there.  A local came by for a visit, saw the stump and the pieces of the tree that had been sectioned up for firewood, and immediately called it a "red oak".  Not sure if the person knew how many different oak species could be referred to as "red oak". 

Northern red oak seems to be correct in this case.

[SwampDonkey]

The leaves of some of my red oaks favor your 4th picture. That and bur oak are the only natives we have.