Quercus hemisphaerica (Darlington oak, Laurel Oak, Oaks, Sand Laurel Oak, Upland Laurel Oak) - 12 Photos - Quercus/hemisphaerica/Fagaceae - Plant Profile

Attributes

Used for firewood or pulpwood.

South East U.S.A. to Texas

AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA

Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mildly resistant to deer. Acorns are an important food source for wildlife. Oaks are a host plant for moths and butterflies.

Edibility:

Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Woody

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Seed

Play Value:

Wildlife Food Source

Wildlife Nesting

Wildlife Cover/Habitat

Wildlife Larval Host

Fruit

Fruit Description:

1/2 inch long dark brown stemless acorns are biennial and have a gray cup with scales covering up to 1/3 of the nut.

Fruit Type:

Nut

Fruit Color:

Brown/Copper

Gray/Silver

Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Flowers

Flower Description:

Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish catkins. Female flowers are sessile or shore stalked.

Flower Color:

Gold/Yellow

Green

Flower Inflorescence:

Insignificant

Catkin

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Leaves

Leaf Description:

2-5 inch long by 1-1.5 inch wide leaves are leathery, shiny and dark green. Undersides are paler. The margins are entire and the base is rounded. They fall about the time new leaves start emerging.

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Broadleaf Evergreen

Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Shape:

Elliptical

Lanceolate

Leaf Margin:

Entire

Lobed

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

3-6 inches

Leaf Feel:

Glossy

Leathery

Leaf Width:

1-3 inches

Bark

Bark Description:

The bark is dark brown with deep furrows producing flat ridges on mature trees. Young trees have smooth gray-brown bark.

Bark Color:

Dark Gray

Dark Brown

Surface/Attachment:

Ridges

Stem

Stem Description:

Stems are light brown to gray, hairless, with small lenticels. Buds are reddish-brown.

Stem Color:

Brown/Copper

Gray/Silver

Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Stem Surface:

Smooth (glabrous)

Stem Bud Terminal:

Cluster of terminal buds

Stem Lenticels:

Not Conspicuous

Poisonous to Humans

Poison Symptoms:

Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract

Poison Toxic Principle:

Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.

Poison Severity:

Low

Causes Contact Dermatitis:

No

Poison Part:

Leaves

Fruits

Whole Plant Traits

Plant Type:

Tree