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Fagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Quercus imbricaria

Quercus imbricaria

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 imbricaria is a deciduous tree with a fairly dense, rounded, spreading canopy; it usually grows 12 - 20 metres tall, occasionally reaching 30 metres. The bole can be up to 90cm in diameter[ 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. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. , 1213 Title Southern Trees Fact Sheets Publication Author Gilman E.F. Website http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees Publisher University of Florida, IFAS Extension Year 0 ISBN Description A series of fact sheets on trees that can be grown in Florida. They can be downloaded from the Internet ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental. Quercus imbricaria is common throughout its wide geographic distribution throughout the central-eastern United States, and its population is considered stable. 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 RangeEastern and Central N. America - Iowa to Michigan and New Jersey, south to Texas, Alabama andd North Carolina
HabitatFound in a variety of habitats from dry upland ridges to rich and moist river bank soils[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ]. Moderately dry to mesic slopes and uplands, occasionally in ravines and bottoms; at elevations from 100 - 700 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. ].