A good example of a Water Oak is present near the last bridge going into the Marsh Area from Marsh Road. Water Oak, a native of the Southeastern U.S., is mainly associated with the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, but extends into the southern and western portions of Tennessee - the UT Vascular Plants Database shows records of Water Oak in Knox and Roane Counties as well. (Click here to reach the UT Vascular Database )

It is a member of the red oak group, with at least some of the leaves having bristle tips. The leaves are variable in shape but most typically are spatulate (shaped like a spatula or spoon). Water Oak is usually associated with bottomland habitats along water bodies, but it does not tolerate prolonged seasonal flooding. Its acorns are eaten by many animals, and it is used extensively in the South as a shade and street tree in urban settings.

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