Quercus phellos
{{Short description|Species of oak tree}}
{{for|the town in Florida|Willow Oak, Florida}}
{{Italic title}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Willow oak
| image = Tree in Mississippi.jpg
| image_caption = Quercus phellos in Mississippi, United States
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Quercus
| display_parents = 2
| parent = Quercus sect. Lobatae
| species = phellos
| authority = L.
| range_map = Quercus phellos range map 1.png
}}
Quercus phellos, the willow oak, is a North American species of a deciduous tree in the red oak group of oaks. It is native to the south-central and eastern United States.
Description
It is a medium-sized tree growing to {{convert|20|–|30|m|abbr=off|sp=us|ft|round=5}} tall (exceptionally to {{convert|39|m|ft|disp=comma|abbr=on}}), with a trunk up to {{convert|1–1.5|m|ft|frac=2|abbr=on}} in diameter (exceptionally {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or|frac=2}}). It is distinguished from most other oaks by its leaves, which are shaped like willow leaves, {{convert|5|–|12|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=off|sp=us}} long and {{convert|1|–|2.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} broad with an entire (untoothed and unlobed) margin; they are bright green above, paler beneath, usually hairless but sometimes downy beneath. The fruit is an acorn, {{convert|8|–|12|mm|in|frac=32|sp=us}} long, and almost as wide as long, with a shallow cup; it is one of the most prolific producers of acorns.{{cite book |last=Little |first=Elbert L. |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region |publisher=Knopf |year=1980 |isbn=0-394-50760-6 |location=New York |page=405}} The tree starts acorn production around 15 years of age, earlier than many oak species.{{eFloras|1|233501073|Quercus phellos |family=Fagaceae |first=Kevin C. |last=Nixon}}
Willow oaks can grow moderately fast (height growth up to {{convert|60|cm|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} a year), and tend to be conic to oblong when young, rounding out and gaining girth at maturity (i.e. more than 50 years).{{citation needed|date = January 2018}}
Distribution and habitat
The species is most common in the American south and eastern states.{{cite web |title=Quercus phellos |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/quephe/all.html#DISTRIBUTION%20AND%20OCCURRENCE |access-date=21 July 2019 |website=fs.fed.us |page=1}} It can be found from Long Island Sound south to northern Florida, and west to southernmost Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas.{{BONAP|ref|genus=Quercus|species=phellos}} Its natural range extends into southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. It has also historically been recorded as occurring in Lancaster, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties, chiefly on wet sites, occasionally in drier, upland ones.Illick, Joseph (1928), Pennsylvania Trees. Much of that area has been built over and developed since World War II, and the tree is now classified as endangered in the state.
It is most commonly found growing on lowland floodplains, often along streams, but rarely also in uplands with poor drainage, up to {{convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}} in altitude.
Ecology
The acorns are eaten by squirrels and other wildlife.
Uses
Economic uses are primarily as an ornamental tree and the wood for pulp and paper production, but also for lumber; it is often marketed as "red oak" wood.{{citation needed|date = January 2018}}
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 heavily used in landscaping in the Southern US (in cities such as Washington, D.C., Raleigh, Charlotte, and Atlanta) around malls, along roads, etc., the trees tend to grow larger than planners expect, which often leads to cracked sidewalks.{{citation needed|date = October 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Silvics |volume=2 |genus=Quercus |species=phellos |first=Bryce E. |last=Schlaegel}}
External links
- [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=QUPH USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Quercus phellos Plant Profile]
- [http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt/6-193 Quercus phellos information and images from Vanderbilt University]
- [http://www.plantmaps.com/nrm/quercus-phellos-willow-oak-native-range-map.php Interactive Distribution Map of Quercus phellos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728113739/http://www.plantmaps.com/nrm/quercus-phellos-willow-oak-native-range-map.php |date=2014-07-28 }}
- [http://www.tropicos.org/ImageFullView.aspx?imageid=100302965 photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Missouri in 1897]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q783224}}
Category:Trees of Northern America
Category:Flora of the Southern United States