Family Fagaceae - Beeches, Chinkapins and Oaks
There are about 900 species in this family worldwide, about 65 trees and 10 shrubs of which are native to North America. Native to the northern hemisphere, the genus Quercus contains several hundred species, including both deciduous and evergreen (often refered to as the 'live oaks') species. Although many exhibit the characteristic lobed leaves, some have serrated leaves while others may have a smooth margin. Perhaps most easily recognised shared feature is the acorn (the fruit), borne in a cup-like structure known as a cupule.

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