Post oak
Post oak is an
oak in the white oak group. It is a small
tree, typically 10–15 m tall and 30–60 cm trunk diameter, though occasional specimens reach 30 m tall and 140 cm diameter. It is native to the eastern
United States, from
Massachusetts in the northeast, west to southern
Iowa, southwest to central
Texas, and southeast to northern
Florida. It is one of the most common oaks in the southern part of the eastern
prairies.
The
leaves of this species have a very distinctive shape, with three perpendicular terminal lobes, shaped much like a
Maltese Cross.
Encyclopedia
Post oak is an
oak in the white oak group. It is a small
tree, typically 10–15 m tall and 30–60 cm trunk diameter, though occasional specimens reach 30 m tall and 140 cm diameter. It is native to the eastern
United States, from
Massachusetts in the northeast, west to southern
Iowa, southwest to central
Texas, and southeast to northern
Florida. It is one of the most common oaks in the southern part of the eastern
prairies.
The
leaves of this species have a very distinctive shape, with three perpendicular terminal lobes, shaped much like a
Maltese Cross. The leaves are leathery, and tomentose beneath. The branching pattern of this tree often gives it a rugged appearance. The
acorns are 1.5–2 cm long, and are mature in their first summer.
"Post" oak refers to the use of the wood of this tree for
fence posts. Its
wood, like that of the other white oaks, is hard, tough and rot-resistant. This tree tends to be smaller than most other members of the group, with lower, more diffuse branching, largely reflecting its tendency to grow in the open on poor sites, so its wood is of relatively low value as sawn
lumber.
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