Common Name: Southern Red Oak

General Information

Quercus falcata is a deciduous tree with a large, rounded canopy; it usually grows up to 30 metres tall, occasionally reaching 45 metres[, ]. The bole is straight and cylindrical, around 60 - 90cm in diameter, and can be free of branches for much of its height if grown in woodland conditions[].
The tree has become a major source of timber in N. America, being harvested on a commercial basis. It is also harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Trees are sometimes grown as ornamentals and street trees to provide shade[].
Quercus falcata is a common upland species throughout its wide geographic range and the population appears to be stableThe plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content.
Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[].

Botanical References

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Range

Eastern N. America - Missouri to New York south to Texas and Florida

Habitat

A common component of mixed hardwood-conifer forests, growing on dry sandy or clay-loam upland soils; at elevations up to 600 metres[]. Occasionally found on moister fertile bottomlands or near streams, where it achieves its greatest size[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Quercus falcata is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers, such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows poorly, failing to properly ripen its wood and suffering frost damage over the winter[, ].
Grows best in a sunny position[], but young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[]. Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[, ]. Plants grow mainly on poor, sandy, acidic, upland soils in the wild, though they also do well on calcareous soils, including shallow sandy soils overlying limestone deposits[]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[].
A moderately fast-growing tree in its native range, where it lives about 100 - 150 years[].
Quercus falcata is one of several species of timber-producing eastern red oak that has almost entirely replaced the white oak (Quercus alba) in commerce. Whilst Quercus alba used to be considered the source of the finest and most durable oak lumber in America, these red oaks are more common, have faster growth rates and greater yields. They also lack tyloses and therefore are more suited to pressure treating with preservatives, even though they are less decay-resistant without treatment[].
Trees commence bearing seed when about 25 years old, production is cyclic with a year of high yields being followed by a few years of low yields[]. The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed taking two summers to ripen[].
The plant can resprount from the base if cut down or top-killed by fire[].
Seedlings soon develop a taproot and become intolerant of root disturbance, they should be planted into their permanent positions whilst young[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The subglobose seed is about 9 - 16mm long and 8 - 15mm wide[, ].
Although we have no specific information for this species, the seeds of all the species of oak are edible - indeed, several species have been used as staple foods, whilst most if not all have been used for food in times of shortage, when better foods were not available[].
The seed is usually cooked before eating, though it can also be eaten raw. It can be eaten whole, though it is more commonly dried, then ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.
In some species, especially many of those classified as 'white oaks', the seeds are low in tannins and have a more or less sweet and agreeable flavour. The seed of most species, however, have a very bitter flavour, due especially to the presence of tannins. In these species there are various processes that can remove or at least reduce the amount of these bitter substances (although other water-soluble substances, including some minerals, will also be removed).
Tannins are water-soluble and therefore the easiest way to remove or reduce tannin levels is by soaking in water. A few different methods are listed:-
A traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter and allow the wet soil to gradually leach the tannins. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency and bitterness.
Another method was to wrap the seeds in a cloth bag and place them in a stream for several weeks.
Drying the seed and grinding it to a powder before soaking speeds up the process. The fastest method is to use hot water, by cooking the powder and changing the water several times until the cooking water is no longer bitter. Alternatively, you can use cold water (which is reported to produce the best quality flour). In this case, you soak the powdered seed in cold water for 12 - 24 hours then discard the water. Repeat this process for a number of times until the soak water is no longer bitter.

The roasted seed of many Quercus species has been used as a coffee substitute.

Medicinal

The bark is antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge and tonic[, , ]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of chronic dysentery, indigestion, asthma, lost voice and intermittent fevers[]. The bark has been chewed as a treatment for mouth sores[]. An infusion of the bark has been used as a wash on sore, chapped skin[].

Any galls produced on the tree are rich in tannins and therefore strongly astringent. They can be used in the treatment of various conditions including haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, as a wash on cuts and wounds, as a mouthwash to treat toothache or gum problems etc[].

Other Uses

The leaves of most species in this genus are more or less rich in tannins. A mulch of the partially decayed leaves can be placed around vulnerable plants in order to repel slugs, snails, grubs etc, and these will in time break down to add humus and nutrients to the soil. Fresh leaves should be used with caution, however, since as these decay they utilize some of the nitrogen in the soil and thus can inhibit plant growth[, ].

Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff and is also used by many cultures to make ink[, ].
The bark of oak trees is also usually rich in tannins and can be used as a dyestuff and for waterproofing rope[, ].

The bark is a good source of tannin[, ].

The wood is coarse-grained, durable, heavy, hard, strong[, , ]. It cracks badly when left in the sun and rots when in contact with the soil[]. It weighs 43lb per cubic foot[]. It is not a prime timber, but is used for rough lumber, tools, furniture etc and as fuel[, , ]. It is inferior to the wood of Quercus rubra[].
The wood of many Oak species is a favoured fuel - burning well and giving off a lot of heat[].

Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.