Quercus stellata, the post oak or iron oak, is a North American species of oak in the white oak section. It is a slow-growing oak that lives in dry areas on the edges of fields, tops of ridges, and also grows in poor soils, and is resistant to rot, fire, and drought. Interbreeding occurs among white oaks, thus many hybrid species combinations occur. It is identifiable by the rounded cross-like shape formed by the leaf lobes and hairy underside of the leaves.
Post oak
The Houston Campsite oak in Grapevine Springs Preserve, Coppell, Texas
The specific epithet stellata is Latin for "star";[3] it is named this because the trichome hairs on the bottom of the leaves are stellate[4] or star-shaped. Several variants of Q. stellata were named by American botanist Charles Sprague Sargent. The variety most recognised by the United States Forest Service is Q. stellata var. paludosa Sarg (delta post oak).[5]
Post oak is a relatively small tree, typically 10–15 metres (33–49 feet) tall and trunk 30–60 centimetres (12–24 inches) in diameter, though occasional specimens reach 30 m (98 ft) tall and 140 cm (55 in) in diameter. The leaves have a very distinctive shape, with three perpendicular terminal lobes, shaped much like a Maltese cross. They are leathery, and tomentose (densely short-hairy) beneath. The branching pattern of this tree often gives it a rugged appearance. The acorns are 1.5–2 cm (5⁄8–3⁄4 in) long, and are mature in their first summer.[4]
Similar speciesedit
Both Quercus stellata and Q. alba are in a section of Quercus called the white oaks.[8] In the white oak section, Q. stellata is a sister taxon with Q. alba.[9]Q. stellata is sold and distributed as white oak. One identifiable difference between the two trees is that Q. stellata is 'hairy' on the underside of the leaf.[10]
Distribution and habitatedit
Q. stellata is found in the eastern and Midwestern United States both inland and along the coast, then in a narrow range along the eastern coast from Massachusetts to Florida, then westward to Texas, and inland to Iowa. Normally found at the edge of a forest, it typically grows in dry, sandy areas, deficient of nutrients.[10]
Ecologyedit
Q. stellata has the ability to survive fires by having thicker bark. It is useful for fire surveys where the tree rings are used to get a fire history of an area. A tree ring survey of 36 trees in Illinois provided a 226-year tree ring record that indicated that many Q. stellata persisted through annual fire return intervals of 1.44 fires/year for over 100 years.[11]
It is used for food for deer, turkeys, squirrels, and other rodents, but because the nuts contain tannin, it is toxic to cattle.[5] A recent study in Kansas concluded that deer browsing reduces post-oak recruitment in canopy gaps generally in the sapling phase. [12]
^Kenny, L.; Wenzell , K. (2015). "Quercus stellata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T194236A2305500. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T194236A2305500.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Mahoney, Kevin D. "Latin Definition for: stellatus, stellata, stellatum (ID: 35675) - Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources - Latdict". latin-dictionary.net. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
^ abcNixon, Kevin C. (1997). "Quercus stellata". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
^ abcStransky, John J. "Quercus stellata Wangenh.--post oak." Silvics of North America 2 (1990): 738–743.
^illustration from Histoire des arbres forestiers de l'Amérique septentrionale, considérés principalement sous les rapports de leur usages dans les arts et de leur introduction dans le commerce ... Par F.s André-Michaux. Paris, L. Haussmann,1812-13. François André Michaux (book author), Pierre-Joseph Redouté (illustrator), Renard (engraver)
^Nixon, KC (1993-01-01). "Infrageneric classification of Quercus (Fagaceae) and typification of sectional names" (PDF). Annales des Sciences Forestières. 50 (Supplement): 25s–34s. doi:10.1051/forest:19930701. ISSN 0003-4312.
^Whittemore, A. T.; Schaal, B. A. (1991-03-15). "Interspecific gene flow in sympatric oaks". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 88 (6): 2540–2544. Bibcode:1991PNAS...88.2540W. doi:10.1073/pnas.88.6.2540. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC51268. PMID 11607170.
^ abStein, John D., Denise Binion, and R. E. Acciavatti. "Field guide to native oak species of eastern North America." (2003): 96-97.
^McClain, William E.; Esker, Terry L.; Edgin, Bob R.; Spyreas, Greg; Ebinger, John E. (2010-12-01). "Fire History of a Post Oak (Quercus stellata Wang.) Woodland in Hamilton County, Illinois". Castanea. 75 (4): 461–474. doi:10.2179/09-007.1. ISSN 0008-7475. S2CID 86503496. ProQuest 854839641.
^Cory, B. J., & Leland Russell, F. (2022). Deer browsing and light availability limit post oak (Quercus stellata) sapling growth and post-fire recovery in a xeric woodland. Forest Ecology and Management, 519, 120346-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120346
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus stellata.
External linksedit
IPNI
Kew
Flora of North America
Plants.USDA.gov
US Forest Service
Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States
Q. stellata images from Vanderbilt University
photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Missouri in 1939
February 15, 2024
quercus, stellata, post, redirects, here, other, uses, post, disambiguation, post, iron, north, american, species, white, section, slow, growing, that, lives, areas, edges, fields, tops, ridges, also, grows, poor, soils, resistant, fire, drought, interbreeding. Post Oak redirects here For other uses see Post Oak disambiguation Quercus stellata the post oak or iron oak is a North American species of oak in the white oak section It is a slow growing oak that lives in dry areas on the edges of fields tops of ridges and also grows in poor soils and is resistant to rot fire and drought Interbreeding occurs among white oaks thus many hybrid species combinations occur It is identifiable by the rounded cross like shape formed by the leaf lobes and hairy underside of the leaves Post oakThe Houston Campsite oak in Grapevine Springs Preserve Coppell TexasConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder FagalesFamily FagaceaeGenus QuercusSubgenus Quercus subg QuercusSection Quercus sect QuercusSpecies Q stellataBinomial nameQuercus stellataWangenh Natural range of Quercus stellataSynonyms 2 List Quercus alba var minor MarshallQuercus floridana Shuttlew ex A DC Quercus fusca Raf Quercus gonoloba Raf Quercus heteroloba Raf Quercus lobulata Sol ex Sm Quercus minor Marshall Sarg Quercus obtusiloba Michx Quercus villosa Walter Contents 1 Taxonomy 1 1 Varieties 1 2 Hybrids 2 Description 2 1 Similar species 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Uses 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy editThe specific epithet stellata is Latin for star 3 it is named this because the trichome hairs on the bottom of the leaves are stellate 4 or star shaped Several variants of Q stellata were named by American botanist Charles Sprague Sargent The variety most recognised by the United States Forest Service is Q stellata var paludosa Sarg delta post oak 5 Varieties edit Varieties include 6 var margarettiae Ashe Sarg var paludosa Sarg var boyntonii Beadle Sarg var anomala Sarg var attenuata Sarg var araniosa Sarg var palmeri Sarg var parviloba Sarg var rufescens Sarg Hybrids edit Hybrids 4 Hybrid Name Q stellata x lt sp gt Q stelloides E J Palmer Q prinoidesQ mahloni E J Palmer Q sinuata var brevilobaQ pseudomargaretta Trelease Q margarettaQ sterretti Trelease Q lyrataQ macnabiana Sudworth Q sinuataQ guadalupensis Sargent Q sinuataQ fernowi Trelease Q albaQ bernardensis W Wolf Q MontanaDescription edit nbsp 1812 illustration 7 Post oak is a relatively small tree typically 10 15 metres 33 49 feet tall and trunk 30 60 centimetres 12 24 inches in diameter though occasional specimens reach 30 m 98 ft tall and 140 cm 55 in in diameter The leaves have a very distinctive shape with three perpendicular terminal lobes shaped much like a Maltese cross They are leathery and tomentose densely short hairy beneath The branching pattern of this tree often gives it a rugged appearance The acorns are 1 5 2 cm 5 8 3 4 in long and are mature in their first summer 4 Similar species edit Both Quercus stellata and Q alba are in a section of Quercus called the white oaks 8 In the white oak section Q stellata is a sister taxon with Q alba 9 Q stellata is sold and distributed as white oak One identifiable difference between the two trees is that Q stellata is hairy on the underside of the leaf 10 Distribution and habitat editQ stellata is found in the eastern and Midwestern United States both inland and along the coast then in a narrow range along the eastern coast from Massachusetts to Florida then westward to Texas and inland to Iowa Normally found at the edge of a forest it typically grows in dry sandy areas deficient of nutrients 10 Ecology editQ stellata has the ability to survive fires by having thicker bark It is useful for fire surveys where the tree rings are used to get a fire history of an area A tree ring survey of 36 trees in Illinois provided a 226 year tree ring record that indicated that many Q stellata persisted through annual fire return intervals of 1 44 fires year for over 100 years 11 It is used for food for deer turkeys squirrels and other rodents but because the nuts contain tannin it is toxic to cattle 5 A recent study in Kansas concluded that deer browsing reduces post oak recruitment in canopy gaps generally in the sapling phase 12 Uses editBecause of its ability to grow in dry sites attractive crown and strong horizontal branches it is used in urban forestry It is resistant to decay so it is used for railroad ties siding planks construction timbers stair risers and treads flooring pulp veneer particle board fuel and its namesake fence posts 5 It is one of the most common types of wood used for Central Texas barbecue References edit Kenny L Wenzell K 2015 Quercus stellata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T194236A2305500 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 4 RLTS T194236A2305500 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Quercus stellata World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Royal Botanic Gardens Kew via The Plant List Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online Mahoney Kevin D Latin Definition for stellatus stellata stellatum ID 35675 Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources Latdict latin dictionary net Retrieved 2016 11 16 a b c Nixon Kevin C 1997 Quercus stellata In Flora of North America Editorial Committee ed Flora of North America North of Mexico FNA Vol 3 New York and Oxford Oxford University Press via eFloras org Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis MO amp Harvard University Herbaria Cambridge MA a b c Stransky John J Quercus stellata Wangenh post oak Silvics of North America 2 1990 738 743 Tropicos quercus stellata Search www tropicos org Retrieved 2016 11 10 illustration from Histoire des arbres forestiers de l Amerique septentrionale consideres principalement sous les rapports de leur usages dans les arts et de leur introduction dans le commerce Par F s Andre Michaux Paris L Haussmann 1812 13 Francois Andre Michaux book author Pierre Joseph Redoute illustrator Renard engraver Nixon KC 1993 01 01 Infrageneric classification of Quercus Fagaceae and typification of sectional names PDF Annales des Sciences Forestieres 50 Supplement 25s 34s doi 10 1051 forest 19930701 ISSN 0003 4312 Whittemore A T Schaal B A 1991 03 15 Interspecific gene flow in sympatric oaks Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 88 6 2540 2544 Bibcode 1991PNAS 88 2540W doi 10 1073 pnas 88 6 2540 ISSN 0027 8424 PMC 51268 PMID 11607170 a b Stein John D Denise Binion and R E Acciavatti Field guide to native oak species of eastern North America 2003 96 97 McClain William E Esker Terry L Edgin Bob R Spyreas Greg Ebinger John E 2010 12 01 Fire History of a Post Oak Quercus stellata Wang Woodland in Hamilton County Illinois Castanea 75 4 461 474 doi 10 2179 09 007 1 ISSN 0008 7475 S2CID 86503496 ProQuest 854839641 Cory B J amp Leland Russell F 2022 Deer browsing and light availability limit post oak Quercus stellata sapling growth and post fire recovery in a xeric woodland Forest Ecology and Management 519 120346 https doi org 10 1016 j foreco 2022 120346 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus stellata External links editIPNI Kew Flora of North America Plants USDA gov US Forest Service Flora of the Southern and Mid Atlantic States Q stellata images from Vanderbilt University photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden collected in Missouri in 1939 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Quercus stellata amp oldid 1191425107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
