Quercus falcata Michx.

Southern Red Oak; Spanish Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Red Oak is a large native deciduous tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Southern Red Oak occurs in mesic to dry upland sites mixed with other hardwoods or pines. It is a large tree reaching 90-100 feet in height. In the open, it develops a wide spreading crown. The bark is dark gray to black and deeply furrowed. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and ovate to elliptic in outline. Shade leaves are often broad and shallowly three lobed at the apex. Sun leaves are narrow and deeply lobed with 3-7 bristle tipped lobes per leaf with the terminal lobe long attenuate. The upper surface of the leave is glabrous and shiny; the lower surface is densely short pubescent with tan colored hairs. The leaves turn reddish brown before falling, but fall color is poor in this species. Male flowers are produced in drooping yellow-brown catkins. The female flowers are produced singly or in pairs on short stalks. The fruit is a nut. The acorn requires two years to mature. The shallow cap covers about 1/3 of the acorn. In south Alabama and Florida this species is known as Spanish Oak. A “tea” made from soaking the tannin rich bark in water has been used as a mouth wash and to treat dysentery. Southern Red Oak is a popular shade tree in Alabama, and is often seen around older homes. Its large size somewhat limits its use in the modern landscape.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU- (NWPL)

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