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Quercus prinus - L.

Common Name Rock Chestnut Oak
Family Fagaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry or rocky woods, mainly on siliceous soils[43] and on the borders of streams[82]. The best specimens are found on deep rich well-drained soils[229].
Range Eastern N. America - Maine to Georgia and Alabama.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Quercus prinus Rock Chestnut Oak


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mwanner
Quercus prinus Rock Chestnut Oak

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Quercus prinus is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft 7in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Q. montana. Willd.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Coffee

Seed - raw or cooked[2, 46, 83, 159]. Somewhat sweet according to some reports[62, 82, 95, 229, 235] whilst another says that it contains bitter tannin[183]. The seed is quite large, up to 4cm long and 25mm wide[82, 200]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread[183]. If the seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Dysentery

Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Buttons  Dye  Repellent  Tannin  Wood

A mulch of the leaves repels slugs, grubs etc, though fresh leaves should not be used as these can inhibit plant growth[20]. The seed cups are used as buttons[95]. The bark is a commercial source of tannin[46, 223]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 9.7% tannin[223]. Tannin is also found in the leaves and wood[223]. 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[4]. A red dye is obtained from the bark[4]. Tan-coloured according to another report[257]. Wood - close-grained, heavy, hard, rather tough, strong, durable in contact with the soil[46, 61, 82, 229]. It weighs 47lb per cubic foot[235]. Used commercially like Q. alba, it is used for furniture, cabinet making, interior finishes, fence posts and fuel[46, 61, 229].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[1, 11]. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[200]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[200]. Prefers warmer summers than are usually experienced in Britain[200], but trees still grow well in this country[1]. A slow-growing tree in the wild, though it can live 400 years[229]. The tree produces large crops of acorns every 4 - 7 years, with small crops in the intervening years[229]. The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed ripening in its first year[200, 229]. This species is often confused with Q. michauxii, Q. muehlenbergii and Q. prinoides[200]. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young[11]. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[200]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[88, 200]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 3. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk [1-2]. The root pattern is a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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[11]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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