Quercus stellata, the听post oak听or听iron oak, is a North American species of听听in the听听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,听, and听. 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.
Taxonomy
The specific epithet听stellata听is听听for "star";听it is named this because the听听hairs on the bottom of the leaves are stellate听or star-shaped. Several variants of听Q.听stellata听were named by American botanist听. The variety most recognised by the听听is听Q.听stellata听var.听paludosa听Sarg (delta post oak).
Description
Post oak is a relatively small听, typically 10鈥�15 metres (33鈥�49 feet) tall and trunk 30鈥�60 centimetres (12鈥�24 inches) in diameter, though occasional specimens reach 30听m (98听ft) tall and 140听cm (55听in) in diameter. The听听have a very distinctive shape, with three perpendicular terminal lobes, shaped much like a听. They are leathery, and听听(densely short-hairy) beneath. The branching pattern of this tree often gives it a rugged appearance. The听听are听1.5鈥�2听cm (5鈦�8鈥�3鈦�4听in) long, and are mature in their first summer.
Similar species
Both听Quercus stellata听补苍诲听听are in a section of听听called the听.听In the white oak section,听Q.听stellata听is a听听飞颈迟丑听蚕.听补濒产补.听Q.听stellata听is sold and distributed as white oak. One identifiable difference between the two trees is that听Q.听stellata听is 'hairy' on the underside of the leaf.
Distribution and habitat
Q. stellata听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听听迟辞听, then westward to听, and inland to听. Normally found at the edge of a forest, it typically grows in dry, sandy areas, deficient of nutrients.
Ecology
Q. stellata听has the ability to survive听听by having thicker听. It is useful for fire surveys where the听听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听Q.听stellata听persisted through annual fire return intervals of 1.44 fires/year for over 100 years.
It is used for food for听,听,听, and other听, but because the听听肠辞苍迟补颈苍听, it is toxic to听.
Uses
Because of its ability to grow in dry sites, attractive crown, and strong horizontal branches, it is used in听. It is resistant to听, so it is used for听,听,听, construction听,听听补苍诲听,听,听,听,听, fuel, and its namesake听.听It is one of the most common types of wood used for听听.
