Common Name: Shingle Oak

General Information

Quercus imbricaria is a deciduous tree with a fairly dense, rounded, spreading canopy; it usually grows 12 - 20 metres tall, occasionally reaching 30 metres. The bole can be up to 90cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Quercus imbricaria is common throughout its wide geographic distribution throughout the central-eastern United States, and its population is considered stable. 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 to Michigan and New Jersey, south to Texas, Alabama andd North Carolina

Habitat

Found in a variety of habitats from dry upland ridges to rich and moist river bank soils[]. Moderately dry to mesic slopes and uplands, occasionally in ravines and bottoms; at elevations from 100 - 700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Quercus imbricaria is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -25°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[, ]. Succeeds in slightly alkaline soils[, ]. Once established it is tolerant of extended periods of the soil being inundated, and is also very tolerant of drought[]. Tolerates moderate exposure, even when salt-laden, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[].
This species prefers well-drained soils, though it can grow in a range of habitats, from moderately dry uplands to mesic bottomlands and stream beds[].
A slow-growing tree[].
The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed taking two summers to ripen[].
Seedlings soon develop a taproot and become intolerant of root disturbance, they should be planted into their permanent positions whilst young[].
Closely related to Quercus phellos[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The ovoid to subglobose seed is up to 18mm long and 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

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[, ].

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

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 wood is hard, heavy, rather coarse grained, extremely durable[, , , , , ]. It weighs 47lb per cubic foot[]. It is occasionally used in construction and for making furniture, clap boards and shingles[, , , ]. The wood of Shingle Oak is not frequently used as commercial lumber, though early settlers of the region often used it for shingles, hence this species' common name[].
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.