Quercus macrocarpa, commonly known as the bur oak, is a large and long-lived deciduous tree native to North America, widely recognized for its impressive size and resilience. It is distinguished by its massive, deeply furrowed trunk, spreading branches, and broad crown that can create a majestic silhouette in the landscape. The leaves are large and deeply lobed, with a unique fiddle-shaped outline, and they turn shades of yellow to brown in autumn. One of its most notable features is the oversized acorns, which are among the largest of all oaks, enclosed in a thick, fringed cup that gives the species its common name. Bur oaks are highly adaptable, thriving in a wide range of soils from dry uplands to moist bottomlands, and they are exceptionally drought- and fire-tolerant, making them a keystone species in prairie and savanna ecosystems. Because of their hardiness and stately appearance, they are also widely planted in parks, large gardens, and restoration projects, where they provide food and shelter for numerous wildlife species including birds, deer, and squirrels.