Quercus havardii
Quercus havardii
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 havardii is a deciduous shrub usually growing 30 - 150cm tall. Spreading by means of a rhizomatous rootstock, the plant can form thickets 10 metres or more wide[ 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 has probably been harvested in the past for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is of great value as a soil stabilizer and wildlife habitat. Populations of Quercus harvardii are threatened mostly by habitat alteration for agriculture and development. Concerns include habitat loss due to roads and pipelines for oil and gas development industries. This threat has resulted in extensive habitat alteration; these impacts include soil compaction; decreased stability of microclimates; loss of habitat; decreased habitat quality; division of the ecosystem with artificial gaps; abrupt habitat edges; and conversion of habitat interior to habitat edge. Once development destroys or fragments Quercus havardii's habitat, its dune stabilization and habitat provided for species such as the Dune Sagebrush Lizard are subsequently reduced. Oil and gas development has resulted in extensive habitat alteration. The most alarming threat centers around livestock use and agricultural conversion. Quercus havardii is poisonous to livestock during the spring and competes with grass and forbs for water and nutrients and, thus, often times is treated as an undesirable plant. Herbicides such as Tebuthiuron are used to eradicate the species. Tebuthiuron gradually kills the plant over a three to four year period. It was reported in 1988 that 100,000 acres of Shinnery Oak had been targeted for treatment in New Mexico and about 320,000 acres in Texas. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' 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. ].