Post Oak

Post Oak (Quercus stellata Wang.)

Leaf:

	The leaves are alternate.
	They are simple leaves. This is where the leaf stems from one bud.
	They have thick blades that are five-lobed. The top three lobes are kind of square in shape. These lobes are separated from the lowest pair by a deep sinus (a depression or margin between two lobes of the leaf).
	They get to be about six inches long and four and 1/2 inches wide.
	They are dark green and hairy on the top surface.
	They are paler and hairy on the underside.
	The leafstalks can be up to one inch long, stout, and hairy.

Stem:

	The stem is stout and brownish.
	When it is young, it is covered by a tawny-colored fuzziness.
	The pith is star-shaped in the cross-section.
	Leaf scars are alternate, but they are heavily cluttered toward the tip.
	They are half-round and they are usually elevated a little bit.
	There are several bundle traces, too.

Bark:

	The bark is gray or light brown in color.
	It is divided into plates that are either flat or square-like.

Flower:

	The staminate (male part) and pistillate (female part) are borne separately, but are on the same tree.
	They appear when the leaves are starting to unfold.
	They do not have petals.
	The staminate is slender and yellow with a catkin form (fox tail shaped).
	The few pistillates that there are, occur in clusters.

Fruit:

	The acorns are either by themselves or in pairs.
	They may or may not have a short stalk.
	The nut has an oval shape to it.
	It can be up to one inch long.
	They are pale brown.
	Around less than half of the nut is covered by the cup.
	The cup is a reddish-brown color, and it is a little hairy.

Form:

	This is a small to medium tree.
	It can get up to 60 feet tall.
	The trunk is up to three feet in diameter.
	The crown is rounded and has stout branches.
	The trunk is either gnarled or straight, but it is not buttressed (more flared out at the base than straight).

Distribution:

It ranges from Massachusetts to Kansas, South to Texas, and East to Florida.

Discussion:

	It is used in fence posts, general construction, and fuel.
	It is also used in veneer products.
	It is found in dry woods and bluffs.
	The wood is hard, heavy, close-grained, and brown in color.
	It has a long lifespan.
	It also has a slow growth rate.
	It has a slow seed spread rate.
	The bloom period is in early spring.



	Top Left: Bark Top Right: Bud Middle Left: Leaves Middle Right: Acorns Bottom Left: Stem

Location:

Cumberland High School, 1496 IL Route 121, Toledo, IL 62468

GPS Coordinates:

References:

	*Mohlenbrock, Robert H. Forest Trees of Illinois. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 8th Edition.*
	*USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5* (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
	MSN Maps & Directions. 25 October, 2004. <www.mapblast.com>.