Post oak trees belong to the plant kingdom of order Fagales, family Fagaceae, and genus Quercus.The scientific name of this tree is Quercus stellata. The term ‘stellata,’ the Latin word for ‘star,’ is associated with the star-shaped hairs present on the lower surface of the cross-shaped leaves.The post oak tree is spread mainly across North American states, namely Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern Connecticut and extreme southeastern New York, west to southeastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia, central Ohio, southern Indiana, central Illinois, southeastern Iowa and Missouri, south to eastern Kansas, western Oklahoma, northwestern, central, and southeast Texas, and southeast to northern Florida.These trees prefer to survive in dry, sandy, and drought-prone areas and are intolerant to flood regions. The medium-sized tree has strong and durable wood and roots that help in the growth and development of these trees. The leaves present on these trees are shaped like a Maltese cross with five unequally sized lobes.Both the male and female flowers produce acorns on the same tree that help carry out vegetative reproduction by the trees. These trees can survive in varied climatic conditions and have a long lifespan. The wood of the post oak trees has made its mark in the market for its invaluable utilities.Keep reading to know more interesting facts about the post oak trees! If you like reading this article, then don’t forget to check out pond vs. lake and all about herbs to discover intriguing facts and much more.Post Oak Tree Classification: Scientific Name, Other Names, And FamilyAlso known as iron oak or cross oak, the post oak tree is a part of the plant kingdom. This tree belongs to the order Fagales, family Fagaceae, also known as the Beech family, and genus Quercus.The scientific name assigned to this tree is Quercus stellata. The pronunciation of the scientific name Quercus stellata goes like ‘kwer-kus stell-ay-tuh.‘The post oak tree is an oak species of the white oak family and generally comes in several varieties. The name post oak is associated with its wood used as fence posts. The variants have originated primarily because of cross-breeding, and they have been named by one of the renowned botanists, Charles Sprague Sargent.Some of its similar species include sand post oak (Quercus stellata var. margaretta (Ashe) Sarg.), the delta post oak (Q. stellata var. paludosa Sarg.), bottomland post oak (Q. similis), and so on.Being a native of North America, the Quercus stellata post oak tree is abundantly found in the coastal states of the southeastern and southcentral United States. The geographical distribution of this tree ranges from southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern Connecticut, and extreme southeastern New York, west to southeastern Pennsylvania and West Virginia, central Ohio, southern Indiana, central Illinois, southeastern Iowa and Missouri, south to eastern Kansas, western Oklahoma, northwestern and central and southeast Texas, and southeast to northern Florida.The Southern Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and the lower slopes or the foothills of the Appalachians are also densely populated by post oak trees. ‘Cross Timbers,’ or the prairie transition region of central Oklahoma and Texas, houses the growth of pure stands of post oak trees.A variety of soils and sites have been recorded to support the growth of these trees. The typical habitat of these trees consists of thin surface soil that is well-drained yet dry, sandy areas that are deficient in nutrients, and wet lowlands. The grounds are generally coarse-textured and contain little organic matter. They grow typically along the edges of fields and at the top of ridges.As these white oaks are distributed across a vast land region, they are well adapted to varied climatic conditions. They can survive in the humid to semiarid conditions of Oklahoma and Texas. The average annual precipitation of this region ranges between 22-60 in (56-152 cm), while the annual snowfall ranges from 15- 30 in (38-76 cm).The mean annual temperatures in New England, Florida, and Iowa range between 50°-72°F (10°-22°C); however, these trees have been recorded to survive in temperatures as extreme as -40°F (-40°C) as well.Specialty Of The Post Oak TreeBelonging to the white oak family, the slow-growing post oak tree is a medium-sized tree and is generally 33-49 ft (10–15 m) in height with a trunk of diameter 12–24 in (30–60 cm). However, some variants are considerably larger, 98 ft (30 m) in height with a trunk of diameter 55 in (140 cm)!The leaves of this tree have a distinctive shape. Each leaf has five perpendicular lobes, two middle lobes much larger than the upper pair, so they look just like a Maltese cross. The cross-shaped leaves are 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm) in length with a broad and flat but thick surface. The surface of the leaf is leathery-textured; the upper surface is dark green and shiny, while the lower surface is pubescent and lighter green in color.The branching pattern and the leaves and flowers of this medium to large tree form a rugged, rounded crown hovering on top. Hence, this tree is generally found growing in open sites. Like other white oak trees, the wood of the Quercus stellata is extremely sturdy and hard. It is incredibly durable and does not rot easily, and hence, it is extremely valuable on the market.The bark exhibits a gray or light brown tone with broad ridges that run perpendicularly down the trunk’s length. The wood is used as fence posts, railroad cross ties, props for mining, and construction timbers. It is also used as fuel and for lighting barbecues in Texas.Being monoecious in nature, both the male and female flowers grow on separate catkins in the same tree to carry out reproduction. The male and female flowers and baby leaves appear on the tree in spring. The female flowers are hardly visible while the male flowers grow in clustered catkins. The female and male flowers are nearly 2-4 in (5.1-10.2 cm) long and exhibit red and yellow shades, respectively.The fruit of the oak tree known as the acorn grows on the tree in clusters that are not more than 1 in (2.5 cm) long. The outer cover of the acorns exhibits a shade of reddish-brown and has scales or hair over it. Some of the animals that feed on these acorns are wild turkeys, blue jays, woodpeckers, wood ducks, bobwhites, deer, mice, ruffed grouse, squirrels, and raccoons.How deep are post oak roots?Like most oak trees, the post oak trees initially spend most of their energy on root development with limited signs of growth above the ground. These trees have taproots that grow deep under the ground in search of moisture and nutrients.As the roots grow deeper, the branches and foliage begin to develop. Gradually, the taproots grow horizontally deeper inside the ground forming an elaborate, complex root system that grows nearly 18 in (45.7 cm) in length. These roots are capable of supplying the tree with moisture and nutrients for the entire lifespan. The lifespan of the post oak trees extends up to 300 years approximately.The roots grow thicker than the diameter of the shoot; however, they are underdeveloped in comparison to the other oak trees, such as the red, scarlet, white, and blackjack oak trees. Absorption of water and minerals from the ground is performed by root hairs present on the roots, which are then circulated throughout the tree.Trees of the same species may share root systems that grow together from the very beginning of development. However, these trees cannot tolerate competition or shade.The roots are known to survive droughts but are flood intolerant. The occurrence of oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum), a vascular disease, is common within the oak family, which includes post oak trees as well.Are oak trees bad for houses?Studies related to oak roots have revealed that although oak trees account for two % of the entire population of trees, as much as 11 % of damage to foundations is caused by oak roots.Oak trees are generally poisonous but, the toxicity is at its peak during spring when the buds and new leaves bloom. Besides, oak trees have taproots that grow deep inside the ground and may leave the soil unfit for laying the foundations for construction.Hence, it is advised that, like all other trees, oak trees must be planted 15 ft (4.6 m) away from a house.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for amazing post oak tree facts that are worth knowing! 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Post oak trees belong to the plant kingdom of order Fagales, family Fagaceae, and genus Quercus.
