Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Quercus alba
White oak
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; lobed (pinnately), parted (pinnately) leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; oblanceolate leaf shape

Inflorescence: catkin

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in wooded slopes; coves; well-drained secondary bottoms.

ILPIN Notes: Wood is very heavy, hard, strong, tough, and close-grained. It is a very high grade all-purpose wood. Form - seeds, balled & burlapped, seedlings. Pistillate flowers are few in a group, red; leaf lobes are rounded not bristle-tipped, lower surface is usually whitish; grayish bark; shiny, oblong, greenish-brown acorns. Marshbirds and shorebirds eat food (i.e., acorns); terrestrial furbearers (esp. raccoons, tree squirrels) eat food, such as acorns, bark, wood; also good den and leaf nest tree. Regarding waterfowl food value, this pertains especially to wood ducks. Regarding small non-game bird food value, this pertains especially to grackles, bluejays, brown thrashers, red-bellied woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers. Regarding small mammals food value, this pertains especially to eastern chipmunks, white-footed mice. Species maybe causes hayfever; acorns are sweet. Seed company numbers: 2, 4, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39, 40.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal: bird, mammal
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: good; upland game birds: good; waterfowl: good; small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 5

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