- Quercus phellos
Taxobox
name = Willow Oak
image_width = 240px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo =Fagales
familia =Fagaceae
genus = "Quercus"
sectio = "Lobatae"
species = "Q. phellos"
binomial = "Quercus phellos"
binomial_authority = L."Quercus phellos" (Willow oak) is a
deciduous tree in the red oak group ofoak s. It is native to easternNorth America from southernNew York (Long Island ) south to northernFlorida , and west to southernmostIllinois and easternTexas . It is most commonly found growing on lowlandfloodplain s, often alongstream s, but rarely also in uplands with poor drainage, up to 400 m altitude.It is a medium-sized tree growing to 20-30 m tall (exceptionally to 39 m), with a trunk up to 1-1.5 m diameter (exceptionally 2 m). It is distinguished from most other oaks by its leaves, which are shaped like
willow leaves, 5-12 cm long and 1-2.5 cm broad with an entire margin; they are bright green above, paler beneath, usually hairless but sometimes downy beneath. Thefruit is anacorn , 8-12 mm long, and almost as wide as long, with a shallow cup; it is one of the most prolific producers of acorns, an important food tree forsquirrel s,bird s, and other animals in the forest. The tree starts acorn production around 15 years of age, earlier than many oak species.Willow oaks can grow moderately fast (up to 60 cm / 2 feet a year), and tend to be conic to oblong when young, rounding out and gaining girth at maturity (i.e. more than 50 years).
Cultivation and uses
Economic uses are primarily as an
ornamental tree and thewood for pulp andpaper production, but also for lumber; it is often marketed as "red oak" wood.The Willow oak is one of the most popular trees for horticultural planting, due to its rapid growth, hardiness, balance between axial and radial dominance, ability to withstand both sun and shade, light green leaf color and full crown. Despite being massively planted in the U.S. South (such as
Washington, DC andAtlanta, Georgia ) around malls, along roads, etc., the tree tends to grow larger than planners expect, and often leads to cracked sidewalks (one intriguing solution being tried in D.C. is to use 'rubber' sidewalks, made from recycled tires. [ [http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Rubber-Sidewalks.htm With Rubber Sidewalks, Trees Are on the Rebound Bob Pool / LA Times 14jul01 ] ]References
External links
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233501073 Flora of North America: "Quercus phellos"]
* [http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/phellos.htm US Forest Service Silvics Manual: "Quercus phellos"]
* [http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/willow_oak.htm Fairfax County Public School Factsheet: Willow Oak]
* [http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/quph.htm "Quercus phellos" images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
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