Quercus laurifolia (swamp laurel oak, diamond-leaf oak, water oak, obtusa oak, laurel oak) is a medium-sized semi-evergreen oak in the red oak section Quercus sect. Lobatae. It is native to the southeastern and south-central United States.
| Swamp laurel oak | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Quercus |
| Subgenus: | Quercus subg. Quercus |
| Section: | Quercus sect. Lobatae |
| Species: | Q. laurifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Quercus laurifolia | |
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| Natural range of Quercus laurifolia | |
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List
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Description
editQuercus laurifolia is a tree growing to 20–24 meters (65–80 feet) (rarely to 40 m or 130 ft) tall, with a large, circular crown. The leaves are broad lanceolate, 2.5–12.7 centimeters (1–5 inches) long and 1.3–4.4 cm (1⁄2–1+3⁄4 in) broad, and unlobed (very rarely three-lobed) with an entire margin and a bristle tip; they typically fall just as the new leaves start to emerge in spring. The acorns, borne in a shallow[3] or deep[3][4] cup, are hemispherical[3] or oblong,[3][4] 8.5–16 millimeters (5⁄16–5⁄8 in)[3] but up to one inch (2.5 cm)[4] long, green, maturing blackish-brown about 18 months after pollination. Acorn production is often heavy, enhancing the species' value for wildlife.[3]
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The seedlings show embryo dormancy and germinate the following spring after fall ripening; germination is hypogeal.
Swamp laurel oak grows rapidly and usually matures in about 50 years.
A similar evergreen oak that also grows in sandy soils is Quercus hemisphaerica, the sand laurel oak.
Taxonomy
editThe botanist C.J. Burke[5][6] suggested that swamp laurel oak is of hybrid origin having been derived from willow oak (Quercus phellos) and water oak (Quercus nigra); it is not found outside the ranges of the two supposed parental species. This conclusion was based on an index from leaf-shape on seedlings grown from acorns. However, this theory has not achieved wide support, with current authors accepting Quercus laurifolia as a distinct species (e.g. Flora of North America).[3]
Distribution and habitat
editSwamp laurel oak grows from coastal Virginia to central Florida and west to southeast Texas.[7] There are reports of the species growing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but these probably represent introductions.[8]
The species is found mostly on alluvial flood plains, from sea level up to 150 m (490 ft) altitude. It will tolerate the wetter sites in association with other oak species but will not live with continuous or prolonged flooding. It is most often found growing in sandy soil near rivers and along the edges of swamps if not too frequently flooded. Swamp laurel oak grows in the hammocks of central Florida and on sand hills adjacent to swamps in west Florida. Swamp laurel oak grows best on ultisols and inceptisols.
The range has average annual temperatures from 16 to 21 °C (61 to 70 °F). It can withstand extreme lows ranging from −1 to −28 °C (30 to −18 °F). Extreme highs range from 38 to 43 °C (100 to 109 °F).
It needs between 1,250–1,500 mm (49–59 in) of rainfall a year. From 500–1,000 mm (20–39 in) of this is received during the growing season from April to September.
The laurel oak is probably one of the most cold-hardy evergreen oaks. Trees growing in Cincinnati indicate the laurel oak may be hardy even further north than previously thought tolerating temperatures lower than −29 °C (−20 °F) and surviving into zone 5. In Cincinnati trees have been observed staying green well into December.
Ecology
editKnown hybrids with Quercus laurifolia as one parent are with Q. falcata (Q × beaumontiana Sarg.), Q. incana (Q. × atlantica Ashe), and Q. marilandica (Q. × diversiloba Tharp ex A. Camus).
The tree is host to the general oak-feeding insects but has no serious insect problems. Several species of Curculio weevils infest the acorns.
Despite their bitter kernel, the acorns are eaten by deer (including white-tailed deer), squirrels, birds[3] (including ducks, bobwhite quail and wild turkeys), raccoons and small rodents.
Uses
editIt is grown and marketed mainly as pulpwood. It is commonly used as an ornamental tree in landscaping because of its fast growth and pleasing appearance; it is planted with little regard to soil type.
References
edit- ^ Wenzell, K.; Kenny, L. (2015). "Quercus laurifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T194186A2303387. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T194186A2303387.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Quercus laurifolia Michx.". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nixon, Kevin C. (1997). "Quercus laurifolia". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ a b c Alden, Peter; Cassie, Brian; Kahl, Jonathan D.W.; Nelson, Gil; Oches, Eric A.; Zirlin, Harry; Zomlefer, Wendy B. (1999). National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern United States. Alfred A. Knopf. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-679-44683-5.
- ^ Burke, C. J. (1961). An evaluation of three hybrid-containing oak populations on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 78(l):18-21.
- ^ Burke, C. J. (1963). The hybrid nature of Quercus laurifolia. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 79(2):159-163.
- ^ Interactive Distribution Map of Quercus laurifolia
- ^ "Quercus laurifolia". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
External links
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- Trees of Alabama and the Southeast: Swamp Laurel Oak
- Florida Forest Trees
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida: Laurel Oak or Swamp Laurel Oak?
- Knight, H. A. (1982). Personal communication. Forest Resources in the Southeast. Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC.