Fagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Quercus turbinella

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content. Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ].

Botanical Description

Quercus turbinella is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub or a small tree that usually grows 1 - 2 metres tall, but can sometimes reach 5 metres, with reports of plants 10 - 20 metres tall. Spreading at the roots, it can form thickets[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. , 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants , 1212 Title New Trees Publication Author Grimshaw J.; Bayton R.; Wilks H. Publisher Kew Publishing; London Year 2009 ISBN 1842461737 Description Provides comprehensive botanical descriptions and horticultural commentary on over 800 tree species that have been introduced to cultivation in recent decades. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials and perhaps also as a food and a medicine. It is used in soil stabilization projects. Quercus turbinella has a large range and currently no known threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouthwest N. America - Nevada, Utah, Colorado, southeast California, Arizona New Mexico, western Texas, northern Mexico

HabitatSemiarid, lower elevation areas of chaparral, shrub deserts, oak woodlands and oak-pine forests, growing with pines, junipers and manzanitas, and becoming the dominant shrub in Arizona chaparral; at elevations from 500 - 1,500 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].