Quercus ilicifolia
| Quercus ilicifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Quercus ilicifolia on North Fork Mountain, West Virginia, USA. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Quercus |
| Section: | Lobatae |
| Species: | Q. ilicifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Quercus ilicifolia Wangenh. | |
 | |
| Natural range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Quercus nana | |
Quercus ilicifolia, commonly known as bear oak or scrub oak, is a small shrubby oak native to the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.
This oak is a deciduous tree or shrub growing up to 6[1] to 8[2] meters tall. It is "gangly" and can form a dense thicket. The plant grows from a large taproot which can be up to 20 centimeters thick. The taproot lives a long time, producing several generations of aboveground parts. The alternately arranged leaves are each up to 15 centimeters long by 10 wide. The species is monoecious, with plants bearing both male catkins and solitary or clustered female flowers. The egg-shaped acorn is 1 to 2 centimeters long with a saucer-shaped cap. The plant reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by sprouting new stems.[2]
This oak is a dominant plant species in a number of regions and habitat types. In Maine it can be found in deciduous forests alongside red maple (Acer rubrum), gray birch (Betula populifolia), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). In Massachusetts it codominates with black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) on the shrublands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. At Cape Cod it occurs with pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and broom crowberry (Corema conradii). It can be found on the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and pine barrens habitat on Long Island. It also occurs in fire barrens on granite and gneiss further north in Canada.[3] This oak is adapted to disturbance in the habitat, such as wildfire. Hence, it does not tolerate shade and it requires disturbance to clear remove other plant species so it can receive sunlight. It sprouts prolifically after fire burns away its aboveground parts.[2]
This plant provides food and shelter for many animal species. Bears consume the acorns, especially when preparing for hibernation. White-tailed deer eat the acorns and the stems and foliage. Many types of squirrels cache the acorns. Many birds depend on them; wild turkeys prefer them over other types of food. A large number of insect species live on the oak. This oak species is the main food plant for 29% of the rare or endangered Lepidopterans in southern New England and southeastern New York.[2]
This oak has been used in revegetation projects on the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.[2]
This oak is also known to rocky summits in the Piedmont of North Carolina where it is listed as a State Endangered Plant.[4]
References
- ↑ Quercus ilicifolia. Flora of North America.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Gucker, Corey L. 2006. Quercus ilicifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
- ↑ Catling, Paul M and Vivian R. Brownell. 1999. The flora and ecology of southern Ontario granite barrens. Pages 392-405 in Anderson, R.C., J.S. Fralish, and J.M. Baskin (eds). Savannas, Barrens, and Rock Outcrop Plant Communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- ↑ Gadd, Laura (2012). Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina. Raleigh, North Carolina: NC Natural Heritage Program. p. 43.