Common Name: Black Oak

General Information

Quercus velutina is a deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown; it usually grows 18 - 24 metres tall, though on good sites trees up to 46 metres have been recorded. In open grown trees the canopy is often as wide as the tree is tall. The straight, cylindrical bole of mature trees can be 60 - 120cm in diameter - it can be free of branches for around half its height when growing in a forest[, , ]
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often harvested on a commercial basis for its wood and tannin-rich bark. It is sometimes grown as a shade tree in parks etc[].
Quercus velutina is a common upland species that remains secure across its wide range. The 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

, ,

Range

Eastern and central N. America - Iowa and Wisconsin to southern Ontario and Maine, south to northeast Texas and northern Florida

Habitat

Upland forests and savannahs, on a range of sites, most often dry slopes and uplands, though it also grows well in rich, moist soils[]. Often found on poor dry sandy, heavy clay soils or on gravelly uplands and ridges[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Quercus velutina is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -30°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[], though young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[]. Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[, ]. Tolerant of poor dry soils[]. Prefers an acidic soil[]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[].
A fairly fast-growing tree[]. Rather slow-growing according to another report which also says that trees rarely live longer than 200 years[].
Quercus velutina is one of several species of eastern red oak that has almost entirely replaced 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 seeds when 15 - 20 years old. Production is cyclic with a year of high yields being followed by 1 - 2 years of low yields[]. The seed takes 2 summers to ripen[].
Large trees have a moderately thick bark and can withstand low-severity fires. Young trees are usually top-killed, but resprout freely from the base after the fire[].
There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[].
Seedlings soon develop a taproot and become intolerant of root disturbance, they should be planted into their permanent positions whilst young[].
Established trees often produce lots of suckers[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, , , ]. The subglobose to ovoid seed can be 10 - 20mm long and 10 - 18mm wide[].
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 inner bark contains quercitannic acid and is used medicinally, mainly as a mild astringent[]. It is inferior to the bark of white oaks because it contains large amounts of tannin[].

The bark is astringent, disinfectant, emetic, febrifuge and tonic[]. It is used in the treatment of chronic dysentery, intermittent fevers, indigestion, asthma and lost voice[]. An infusion has been used as a gargle for sore throats, hoarseness colds etc[]. The bark can be chewed as a treatment for mouth sores[]. An infusion of the bark has been used as a wash for sore and chapped skin[]. A decoction of the crushed bark has been used as a wash for sore eyes[].

Quercus (oak) species are used in the traditional medicine of many cultures, being valued especially for their tannins. Various parts of the plant can be used, most frequently it is the leaves, bark, seeds, seed cups or the galls that are produced as a result of insect damage. A decoction or infusion is astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, styptic and haemostatic. It is taken internally to treat conditions such as acute diarrhea, dysentery and haemorrhages. Externally, it is used as a mouthwash to treat toothache or gum problems and is applied topically as a wash on cuts, burns, various skin problems, haemorrhoids and oral, genital and anal mucosa inflammation[]. Extracts of the plant can be added to ointments and used for the healing of cuts[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Black oak naturally regenerated on abandoned lead-zinc mine sites in Wisconsin and Iowa. The soil has high concentrations of lead and zinc, but soil pH is not very low[].

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 is a source of tannin[, , ]. The bark of black oak contains enough tannin to make commercial
extraction worthwhile[]. The tannin can be used as a dyestuff and for waterproofing rope[, ].

A yellow dye, suitable for colouring natural fibres, can be obtained by boiling the inner bark[, ]. The bark is a rich source[, , , ] whilst the seed can also be used[].
The dye is reddish-yellow according to one report and does not need a mordant[].

The heartwood is light brown; it is clearly demarcated from the nearly white sapwood[]. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, coarse grained. It weighs 43lb per cubic foot[]. Of little value except as a fuel[, ]. Commercially important according to another report[]. The wood is used for rough lumber, cross-ties etc[]. A valuable timber tree, it is sold as 'red oak' and used for making furniture, flooring, interior finish, barrels, railroad ties etc[].
The wood 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.