Fagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Quercus muehlenbergii

Edibility

3/5

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 muehlenbergii is a deciduous tree with a broad, rounded canopy; it usually grows around 18 - 30 metres tall, though on favoured sites it has reached 48 metres and on drier sites it is sometimes a shrub around 3 metres tall[ 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. , 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. ]. The straight, cylindrical bole usually branches from quite low down; it can be up to 120cm in diameter on favoured sites The tree is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. There are conflicting reports on the uses of the wood, but it is probably harvested on a commercial basis. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, making an attractive shade tree[ 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 ]. This species has a wide distribution across the United States and into parts of Canada and Mexico. Although population size has not been quantified, it is not believed to approach threshold values for a threatened category. 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 RangeCentral and eastern N. America - Iowa to Vermont, south to New Mexico, northern Mexico, Texas and northern Florida

HabitatDry calcareous slopes and ridges, or on rich bottoms[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Favouring alkaline soils and avoiding acid soils, it grows on limestone outcrops and well-drained slopes of the uplands, usually scattered with other hardwood speciess[ 227 Title Trees of North Texas Publication Author Vines. R.A. Publisher University of Texas Press. Year 1982 ISBN 0292780206 Description A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses. , 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. ].