Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Quercus macrocarpa
Mossy cup oak
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

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: Found on dry ridges, in bottomland woods; earlier invader of prairie edges and prairie lands; tolerant of drought and fire.

ILPIN Notes: Might cause hayfever; nuts edible. Pistillate flowers few in a group, stigmas red; leaves usually with a pair of deep sinuses just below the middle, not bristle tipped; acorn with a large fringed cup. Marshbirds and shorebirds use the acorns of this species for food. Terrestrial furbearers (especially raccoons and tree squirrels) use the acorns, bark, and wood of this species for food. It is also a good den tree. Food value for waterfowl, especially woodducks. Small non-game bird food value for grackles, blue jays, brown thrashers, red-bellied woodpeckers, and red- headed woodpeckers especially. Also a primary food value for small mammals such as eastern chipmunks and white-footed mice. Form-seedlings, balled and burlapped, seeds. 2, 4, 14, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29, 32.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal: bird, mammal
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation: No

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

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

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

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 5

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