If this is what I think it is, it’s outside its prominent range. This very large wolf tree is on a coworker’s land, way down in a marshy area. If I’m correct it’s a Swamp White Oak AKA Swamp Chestnut Oak (separate species from Chestnut Oak) I’m sure someone here has firsthand experience with these trees. Unfortunately I didn’t think to take leaf pictures while I was there, but saw several on the ground that looked like Chestnut Oak. From my research the leaves are almost identical between the two species. I know that the last time it was measured 35 years ago it was 4’ DBH, so obviously it’s grown bigger since then. I love to see when trees reach their potential like this one has.
Swamp White Oak - Qurcus bicolor Swamp Chestnut Oak- Quercus michauxii The leaves between the two are distinctly different. The tree in your pic is a beauty whichever it is. I’ve never seen a tree of either species that big.
I bet a tree like that dates back to the revolution. To think, that tree was a shade tree for livestock in the middle of an open field once probably in the early 1800s.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s located in Cromwell in an area that was farmed extensively since Colonial times. With the stream flowing close by, I can see in my mind’s eye that livestock would’ve grazed here long ago.
I’d love to see someone standing next to it for a pic, or something to better reference it’s huge size. Very cool!! That big oak I processed was 50” at one point and I counted 118 rings.
Given the number of branches, it was the only thing around. However, there's other trees now growing up into it's branches. There's that one birch/poplar, then another thinner tree. The oak would benefit from the removal of them. Thanks for sharing!
If you could make it past the lower limbless trunk, what a great climbing tree that is! My inner 12 year old is getting all excited!
