ï~~2003
THE MICHIGAN BOTANIST
161
THE BIG TREES OF MICHIGAN
34. Quercus shumardii Buckl.
Southern Red Oak
Susan Campbell, Senior Naturalist Elwood B. Ehrle
Belle Isle Nature Center Department of Biological Sciences
Belle Isle Park Western Michigan University
Detroit, MI 48207 Kalamazoo, MI 49008
woodyehrle @ aol.com
The largest known Southern Red Oak in Michigan is located on Belle Isle, an
island in the Detroit River, located just south of the city of Detroit in Wayne
County of Michigan's lower peninsula.
Description of the Species: The Southern Red Oak is a member of the red oak
group in the genus Quercus. As such, it bears acorns and has leaves with 5-9
(usually 7) lobes. Each lobe ends in a bristle tip and is separated by usually narrow sinuses (see Fig. 1). The leaves are dark green and lustrous above and paler
below with tufts of large pale hairs in vein axils. The young twigs are grayish
brown and glabrous. The largest of the several terminal buds is up to 6 mm long
and pointed. The acorns are borne singly or in pairs and are 2-3 cm long. The
light brown cap is covered with a whitish tomentum and covers 4 to % of the nut.
The Southern Red Oaks range, as given in Miller & Lamb (1985), extends
from Florida to Texas, northward to Indiana and southern Michigan. In addition
to being known on Belle Isle, it has been reported from near Portage Lake in
Jackson County, Michigan (Sargent 1905, 1965). Miller and Lamb's (1985) map
also shows isolated sites in Kalamazoo and Jackson Counties.
Location of Michigan's Big Tree: The Shumard Oaks on Belle Isle grow in the
wooded NE part of the island between the Zoo and Nature Center. The State
Champion tree is in a grove with pumpkin ash trees. It grows on the northern
bank of the Nashua Canal, between the middle and eastern bridges of the bicycle trail which runs along the canal.
To reach the tree, take 1-75 south through the City of Detroit to 1-375. Follow
1-375 south to Jefferson Ave. Exit 1-375 onto Jefferson Ave. and go east to E.
Grand Blvd. Turn right and proceed over the McArthur Bridge onto Belle Isle.
As soon as you are on the island, the road forks. Take the left fork and proceed
along Central Ave. to the intersection of Inselruhe Avenue. Turn right onto Inselruhe Avenue. Go one block and turn left onto Loiter Way. Follow Loiter Way
until you come to a curve and then a small bridge. Park on the left and walk
down the bike trail along the canal to the second bridge. The tallest tree you can
see on your right as you walk over the bridge is the champion Shumard Oak.
Description of Michigan's Big Tree: There are a number of Shumard Oaks
growing with the Pumpkin Ash in what might be described as a Shumard OakPumpkin Ash Association. These trees had been previously visited by Herb
Wagner, Steve Koblarz, Susan Campbell, and Bill Brodovich who all agreed that
