This southeastern species occurs mostly on the Coastal Plain, but it is also scattered in swampy woods further inland. In Ky. there appear to be occasional hybrids with other species, especially macrocarpa, bicolor and michauxii; with leaves alone, distinction from these species is sometimes difficult. Some of the disjunct colls. mapped here from central and eastern counties may be hybridized or otherwise atypical, but most of these colls. from close to the Ohio Rv. are clearly typical lyrata (HARD, JEFF, OLDH). Q. lyrata appears relatively close to macrocarpa and perhaps stellata, with habitats ovelapping in hydroxeric transitions (FNA 3, W). Its distinctive "overcup" acorns have cups covering most of the nut and fringed with relatively thin acute scales (versus terete and awned in macrocarpa). There is little published about germination, but it may generally be delayed until spring when waters recede; Larsen (1963) reported that: "Germination of Q. lyrata was severely delayed by all treatments which seems to be related to saturation of the spongy shells with consequent interference in gas exchange." Leaves often have unequal lyrate lobing similar to macrocarpa, but they tend to be smaller, up to ca. 10 cm long (versus 15 cm); lobes and teeth tend to be fewer, with ca. 5-10 teeth on each side (versus 10-20) and more sharply angled (with little or no compound lobing). Above the main central lobes, leaves of lyrata have a relatively narrow distal portion with broad sinuses; in macrocarpa this distal portion is often less deeply lobed or the lobes are relatively broad with blunt compound lobing and narrow sinuses. Lower leaf surfaces are whitish-tomentose (as in some bicolor) to glabrate, green or sometimes glaucous; similar variation occurs within macrocarpa. Well-developed winter buds of lyrata are pubescent, as in macrocarpa and stellata, but with relatively short hairs; they also tend to be smaller (mostly 2-4 mm long versus 4-6 mm). Twigs are generally glabrate (versus more or less densely pubescent).