Quercus stellata
| Post oak | |
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| 1812 illustration | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Quercus |
| Section: | Quercus |
| Species: | Q. stellata |
| Binomial name | |
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Quercus stellata Wangenh. 1787 |
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| Natural range of Quercus stellata | |
| Synonyms | |
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Quercus stellata (Post oak, Iron oak) is a North American species of oak in the white oak section. Quercus stellata is a slow growing oak that lives in dry poor soils, and is resistant to rot, fire, and drought. Interbreeding occurs among white oaks thus many hybrid species combinations occur.
Quercus stellata is native to the eastern and central United States, and found in all the coastal states from Massachusetts to Texas, and as far inland as Nebraska. It is identifiable by the rounded cross like shape formed by the leaf lobes and hairy underside of the leaves.
Quercus stellata is a relatively small tree, typically 10–15 meters (33–50 feet) tall and trunk 30–60 cm (1–2 feet) in diameter, though occasional specimens reach 30 meters (100 feet) tall and 140 cm (56 inches or 4.7 feet) in diameter. The leaves have a very distinctive shape, with three perpendicular terminal lobes, shaped much like a Maltese Cross. They are leathery, and tomentose (densely short-hairy) beneath. The branching pattern of this tree often gives it a rugged appearance. The acorns are 1.5–2 cm (0.6-0.8 inch) long, and are mature in their first summer.
The specific epithet "stellata" is latin for "star" it is named this because the trichome hairs on the bottom of the leaves, are stellate or star shaped. There are several variants of Quercus stellata named by American botanist Charles Sprague Sargent. The variety most recognised by the US forest service is Q. stellata var. paludosa Sarg (Delta Post Oak)
var. margarettiae (Ashe) Sarg.
var. paludosa Sarg.
var. boyntonii (Beadle) Sarg.
var. anomala Sarg.
var. attenuata Sarg.
var. araniosa Sarg.
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