The primary objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between microhabitat distributions of these two gallery forest oak species and the soils on which they grow. Data are from collections and observations made within an extensive gallery forest on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in northeastern Kansas (96o35'W, 39o05'N). This forest borders King's Creek and is supported by fertile soils developed from deposited alluvium, the origins of which were the adjacent Udic Ustoll prairie soils. The forest overstory is dominated by hackberry (Celtis occidentalis L., 260 stems/ha) and contains five times more Q. macrocarpa stems, and seven times more Q. macrocarpa basal area than Q. muhlenbergii (48 to 10 stems/ha; 10.8 to 1.5 m2/ha) Although Q. mulhenbergii is clearly less dominant than Q. macrocarpa in the forest overall, Q. mulhenbergii completely dominates patches within the forest mosaic