post oak

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Iron Oak
• Post Oak

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Quercus stellata f. rufescens
• Quercus minor
• Quercus stellata var. rufescens
• Quercus stellata var. palmeri
• Quercus stellata f. sterrettii
• Quercus stellata f. tonsa
• Quercus obtusiloba
• Quercus heteroloba
• Quercus lobulata
• Quercus floridana
• Quercus fusca
• Quercus gonoloba
• Quercus villosa
• Quercus alba var. minor
• Quercus stellata var. anomala
• Quercus stellata var. floridana
• Quercus stellata f. heterophylla
• Quercus stellata f. houbae
• Quercus stellata f. laevis
• Quercus stellata f. cruciformis
• Quercus stellata var. parviloba
• Quercus stellata f. quadrata
• Quercus stellata f. reducta
• Quercus stellata f. mollissima
• Quercus stellata f. oblonga

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Fagales and the family Fagaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Quercus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Quercus stellata, exhibits a specific range within the North-Central region of the United States. It can be found growing naturally across the state of Illinois. Its distribution also extends through the landscapes of Iowa. Furthermore, the species is present within the borders of Kansas. Finally, its geographical reach includes Missouri and Oklahoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Quercus stellata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem through successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a life form strategy that protects its buds during unfavorable periods and enables significant vertical growth. Specifically, its development follows the phanerophyte classification, ensuring its survival through robust structural development that supports its long-term life cycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Quercus stellata is characterized by a robust, woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. This species is a self-supporting organism that does not exhibit climbing, liana, or vine-like behaviors, nor does it function as a parasite or an epiphyte. As a terrestrial plant, it is not aquatic or semiaquatic in nature. It reaches a significant stature with a mean plant height of approximately 19.06 meters, maintaining an independent biological existence within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

19.06 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Quercus stellata is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process wherein carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the first stage of the Calvin cycle. This metabolic approach involves the enzyme RuBisCO, which facilitates the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, making the plant highly efficient in temperate environments where water availability is sufficient to maintain open stomata. The energy conversion process within the chloroplasts relies on light-dependent reactions to generate ATP and NADPH, which subsequently drive the light-independent reactions to synthesize carbohydrates. This physiological framework supports the plant's seasonal growth patterns and its ability to manage gas exchange and transpiration in response to varying environmental moisture levels.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Quercus stellata is characterized by a specific seed morphology and a specialized dispersal mechanism. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly consistent mass, with a recorded mean of 1.19455333333333 g, ranging from a minimum of 1.19366 g to a maximum of 1.196 g. In terms of propagation strategy, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds are primarily distributed through interaction with animals, although its potential dispersal methods may encompass anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, or unspecialized pathways.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

1.196 g

Seed mass mean:

1.19455333333333 g

Seed mass min:

1.19366 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Quercus stellata has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALUMINUM, Ash, BARIUM, BORON, CADMIUM.

ALUMINUM

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Ash

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BARIUM

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BORON

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CADMIUM

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CALCIUM

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CHROMIUM

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COBALT

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COPPER

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FLUORINE

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Activities

Quercus stellata has 211 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Astringent, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Acnegenic, Amphiglycemic?.

Astringent

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2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

ACE-Inhibitor

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AP-1-Inhibitor

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Acnegenic

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Amphiglycemic?

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Analgesic

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Androgenic

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Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

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Anorexic

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AntiAGE

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