This is widely scattered across northeastern states, but concentrated in more extensive swampy woods. In Ky. there appear to be rare to occasional hybrids, especially with macrocarpa but also alba, lyrata, michauxii, muhlenbergii and perhaps others. Introgression of bicolor with macrocarpa may explain some of the variability in its leaf shape (FNA 3). Also, hybrids with the European Q. robur are being promoted for urban plantings (e.g. as patented by Earl Cully). When available, a distinctive character of bicolor, compared to its closest relatives, is the length of its peduncles: (2) 4-7 (10) cm, versus 0-3 (5) cm in macrocarpa, michauxii, montana, or 0-0.8 cm in muehlenbergii and prinoides. Acorn cups cover 1/2-3/4 of the nut (sometimes like lyrata), with scales closely appressed but often with recuved awns at the rim (unlike lyrata). Leaves of this variable species are sometimes confused with michauxii, muehlenbergii or montana, especially shade-leaves; see keys in FNA 3, Stein et al. (2003) and W. Leaves of bicolor have relatively few prominent secondary veins (ending in lobes): (3) 5-8 (10) per side, versus (7) 10-15 (20) in the others, or less in prinoides (see notes under that name). Sun-leaves are generally pale below, due to dense appressed-stellate hairs (as in muhlenbergii, some macrocarpa and some lyrata), but erect 1-4 lobed hairs are also present (as in michauxii and shade leaves of macrocarpa). Leaves often have a gap between proximal lobes and less pronounced distal lobes or teeth, with some similarity to lyrata, macrocarpa and stellata. Unlike these three species, bicolor has buds and twigs that are usually glabrous (versus pubescent to glabrate); lower leaf surfaces are persistently tomentose as in macrocarpa and stellata (but unlike lyrata which sometimes becomes glabrate). Bark is often "scaly" or "ragged" in strips ca. 1-2 cm wide, and starts exfoliating on relatively young branches (more so than alba and michauxii), but bark can also develop deeper ridges in older trees. Root systems may be relatively shallow, compared to related species, and sprouts occasionally appear from lateral roots up to 50 cm from vigorous saplings (pers. obs.).