Fagaceae FAMILY

Quercus prinoides

Edibility

2/5

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 prinoides is a deciduous shrub usually growing up to 3 metres tall, occasionally reaching 5 metres and with reports of some plants reaching 10 metres. It sometimes spreads at the roots by means of rhizomes and 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. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and Central N. America - Iowa to southern Ontario and New Hampshire, south to Oklahoma, northern Alabama and northern Georgia

HabitatSunny sites, often in rocky or acid sandy soils, on dry plains, rocks, thickets, woodland edges[ 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. , 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. ]. Pine barrens, scrublands, forest margins, prairies, and exposed ridges, on deep sands or dry shale, rarely on calcareous soils; to 500 metres[ 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. ].