Missouri's Oaks and Hickories

By Edgar Denison and Bruce Palmer
Photography by Jim Rathert

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our first encounter with an oak or hickory tree may have been the big one you climbed in your backyard. But probably you have had many more meetings with them since that time.

The oaks and hickories are very important members of Missouri's forests. About three-fourths of the trees you will find in our forests will be either an oak or a hickory.

These hardwoods are known for their strong, functional wood which is manufactured into furniture, lumber, flooring and other products. Yet the beauty, recreation, wildlife habitat and water quality these forests provide are more valuable to many.

Oaks and hickories are the most numerous of the tree species in the state. But each is distinct and each has its place in Missouri's forests.