Turkey Oak

Quercus laevis reportedly hybridizes with Q . falcata (= Q . × blufftonensis Trelease), Q . hemisphaerica , Q . incana , and Q . marilandica (C. S. Sargent 1918); with Q . nigra ; and with Q . arkansana , Q . coccinea , Q . myrtifolia , Q . phellos , Q . shumardii , and Q . velutina (D. M. Hunt 1989).

Trees or shrubs , deciduous, to 20 m. Bark bluish gray, deeply furrowed, inner bark orangish or reddish. Twigs dark reddish brown with distinct grayish cast, (1.5-)2-3.5(-4) mm diam., sparsely pubescent to almost glabrous. Terminal buds light brown to reddish brown, conic or narrowly ovoid-ellipsoid, 5.5-12 mm, pubescent. Leaves: petiole 5-25 mm, glabrous. Leaf blade circular or broadly ovate-elliptic, widest near or proximal to middle, 100-200 × 80-150 mm, base attenuate to acute, occasionally obtuse or rounded, blade decurrent on petiole, margins with 3-7(-9) lobes and 7-20 awns, lobes attenuate to falcate, occasionally oblong or distally expanded, apex acute to acuminate; surfaces abaxially occasionally orange-scurfy, usually glabrous except for conspicuous axillary tufts of tomentum, adaxially glabrous, secondary veins raised on both surfaces. Acorns biennial; cup somewhat goblet-shaped, 9-14 mm high × 16-24 mm wide, covering 1/3 nut, outer surface puberulent, inner surface pubescent, scales occasionally tuberculate, tips loose, especially at margin of cup, acute, margin conspicuously involute; nut ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 17-28 × 12-18 mm, often faintly striate, glabrate, scar diam. 6-10 mm.

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Va.

Flowering early to mid spring.

Dry sandy soils of barrens, sandhills, and well-drained ridges; 0-150m.

Quercus catesbaei Michaux

American turkey oak (Quercus laevis) is a small, moderately fast-growing deciduous tree in the red oak group of oaks.It is native to the subtropical Southeastern United States along the Gulf plane from Louisiana to central Florida, and along the Atlantic coast north to Virginia.Turkey oak is a remarkably drought tolerant species.It grows in the dry, infertile, sandy dunes, soils of ridges, high pinelands, and pine scrub up to 150 meters (500 feet) in altitude.These are harsh habitats where few other oaks can survive.

Turkey oak grows as a small tree generally 6-9 m (20-30 feet) tall, although individuals do occasionally grow taller.The tallest known individual is 25 m (83 ft) in height, located in Branford, Florida.Turkey oaks have thick, ridged bark that is grey on young trees but turns black in older individuals.

In spring (March-May), turkey oak trees produce separate male and female flowers. Male flowers hang from the branches as 7.5-12.5 cm (3-5 inch) long catkins.Female flowers are small, and grow directly off the stem, either alone or in pairs. Acorns take two years to develop and then drop from the tree in the fall.Germination occurs in spring, and young turkey oak seedlings develop long taproots and a complex root system.Acorn germination, however, is not common; turkey oak trees tend to expand clonally rather than by seed.The acorns are an important food to wildlife species, including black bear, white-tailed deer, northern bobwhite quail, and wild turkey.

Turkey oak often associates with longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and sometimes also blackjack oak (Q. incana) in high pine land ecosystems.It is intolerant of shade, preferring full sun. It often grows in pure stands, or as understory in sparse pine forests.Turkey oaks grow abundantly, and are common especially in northwest Florida.In Florida alone, they are thought to cover approximately 9 to 10 million acres of land.Regular forest fires will keep turkey oak populations in check, as they less resistant to forest fire than pines are.However, turkey oak will replace longleaf pine trees in stands where fires are suppressed.

While it is not a commercially important species, turkey oak is noted for its wood, which is touted as excellent fuel.Its acorns are sometimes roasted and used as a substitute for coffee, or the seed is ground and used as a flour or soup thickener, once the bitter tannins are washed out.Galls on the leaves are used as an astringent to treat haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Turkey oak (also called turkey foot oak) is named for its 3-lobed leaves, which resemble a turkey's foot. Because there is a European turkey oak, Q. laevis is called American turkey oak to avoid confusion. This species is also known as Catesby oak or scrub oak.

(Andreu et al. 2010; Carey 1992; Harlow 1990; Holmes 2012; Wenzel and Kenny 2015)

turkey oak

Catesby oak

scrub oak

More info for the term: cover

Turkey oak provides cover and shelter for wildlife. Fox squirrels nest in turkey oak and use the leaves for nests [16]. Scrub jays, however, prefer the associated evergreen scrub oaks over turkey oak for nesting [38]. Turkey oak-dominated sandhills are good habitat for numerous reptiles and amphibians [18].

More info for the terms: fruit, tree

c:

Turkey oak is a small- to medium-sized, moderately fast-growing, short-lived, deciduous tree. The much-dissected leaves are variable in size and shape, and have a phototropic vertical orientation to reduce moisture loss. Turkey oak develops an extensive lateral root system with age. Turkey oak at maturity ranges from 20 to 50 feet (6-15 m) in height but can be larger on good sites [11]. The largest turkey oak in Florida is 82 feet (25 m) tall and 26 inches (66 cm) in d.b.h. If disturbed, turkey oak can be small, stunted, and gnarled [22]. The relatively thick, blackish bark has deep furrows and rough blocky ridges [5]. The fruit, a medium-sized nut, averages 0.3 cubic inch (4.8 cu cm) in volume [2].

Turkey oak occurs in the Southeastern Coastal Plain from southeast Virginia to central Florida and west to southeast Louisiana [11,15].

More info for the terms: fire regime, litter, low-severity fire, natural, root collar

Large, mature turkey oaks have relatively thick bark and can survive low-severity fire. If top-killed, turkey oak sprouts vigorously from the root collar. Historically, natural fire occurred at 3- to 4-year intervals in sandhill vegetation [28]. Frequent low-severity fire keeps turkey oaks small, stunted, and widely scattered [23].

Fire influences the spatial pattern of turkey oak. Repeated fires result in segregation between longleaf pine and turkey oak [28]. Fire fueled by longleaf pine litter is hotter than fire fueled by turkey oak litter [36]. In addition, fallen pine needles lodge in the foliage of subcanopy turkey oak. Turkey oak stands growing with longleaf pine, where fires are frequent and carry well, are often young and even-aged. Turkey oak stands isolated from pines, where fires are less frequent, are uneven-aged [28].

Turkey oak is protected from fire near groves of sand live oak, which act as natural fire breaks. The litter of sand live oak is moist and incombustible, and the dense grove inhibits wiregrass growth [28].

FIRE REGIMES : Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".

More info for the term: fuel

Prescribed burning to eradicate turkey oak is ineffective. Generally, there is inadequate fuel to carry the fire, and vigorous sprouting after fire will increase rather than decrease the number of oak stems [31]. Prescribed burning at 5-year intervals maintains a longleaf pine-turkey oak pyrophytic sandhill community [39].

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More info for the term: phanerophyte

Phanerophyte

More info for the terms: forest, xeric

Turkey oak grows on xeric sandhills up to 500 feet (150 m) in elevation [5]. The droughty sands are classified as typic Quartzipsamments of the Entisol soil order. These soils are strongly acidic, excessively to well drained, and low in organic matter [11,22]. In Florida, turkey oak is common on the sandy uplands, and in Georgia and the Carolinas, it is common near the coast [12]. Turkey oak is intolerant of salt spray; the first inland appearance of turkey oak is just beyond the maritime forest [26].

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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

69 Sand pine

71 Longleaf pine-scrub oak

72 Southern scrub oak

111 South Florida slash pine

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES12 Longleaf-slash pine

FRES13 Loblolly-shortleaf pine

FRES14 Oak-pine

FRES15 Oak-hickory

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: forest

K112 Southern mixed forest

K116 Subtropical pine forest

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This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

810 Longleaf pine-turkey oak hills

More info for the terms: low-severity fire, tree

Small turkey oaks are top-killed by low-severity fire [28]. Turkey oak is more likely to suffer crown mortality in the vicinity of a longleaf pine. In two late spring fires in Florida, turkey oak crown survival was positively related to the d.b.h. of the turkey oak and to the distance from the nearest longleaf pine. Crown survival was inversely related to the d.b.h. of the nearest pine. Turkey oaks less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in d.b.h. were very sensitive to the proximity of longleaf pine which had up to a 33 foot (10 m) radius of influence on these small oaks. Turkey oaks smaller than 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) in d.b.h. had high crown mortality, but low tree mortality [29].

Turkey oak survival was higher near groves of sand live oak [29].

Because of their palatability, digestibility, and seasonal abundance, acorns of turkey oak are a major food source for mammals and birds, including black bear, white-tailed deer, fox squirrel, scrub jay, northern bobwhite, and wild turkey [11,16,32]. Besides acorns, mature turkey oak stands have little to offer in way of forage because undergrowth is sparse [21]. Turkey oak acorns are not as important to wildlife if associated evergreen scrub oaks such as sand live oak (Q. virginiana var. germinata), myrtle oak (Q. myrtifolia), and Chapman oak (Q. chapmanii) are present [13].

More info for the terms: cover, fern, forest

Turkey oak grows in pure stands, in isolated pockets, and as a subcanopy
within longleaf pine forests. The two most common overstory associates
in turkey oak forests are sand post oak (Quercus stellata var.
margaretta) and bluejack oak (Q. marilandica). Other
associated overstory species include southern red oak (Q. rubra),
laurel oak (Q. laurifolia), sand hickory (Carya pallida),
mockernut hickory (C. tomentosa), and black cherry
(Prunus serotina) [11]. Also see SAF cover types.



Understory associates include myrtle oak (Q. myrtifolia),
Chapman oak (Q. chapmanii), sand live oak (Q. virginiana
var. geminata), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), persimmon
(Diospyros virginiana), pawpaw (Asimina spp.), Vaccinium spp.,
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), gopher-apple
(Geobalanus oblongifolius), blackberry (Rubus spp.), crooked
wood (Lyonia spp.), scrub hickory (Carya floridana), poison-sumac
(Toxicodendron vernix), and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) [11].



Groundcover includes pineland threeawn or wiregrass (Aristida stricta),
bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), Heterotheca spp., and legumes [11].




Because turkey oak is drought resistant, it becomes dominant
on the driest, most infertile sandhill sites. Published
classifications listing turkey oak as dominant in community
types (cts) are presented below:

Area Classification Authority

se US general veg. cts Christensen 1988 [4]
nc FL general forest cts Monk 1968 [20]
SC veg. cts Nelson 1986 [24]
se US general forest cts Waggoner 1975 [35]

More info for the term: tree

Tree

To establish pine on sandhill sites, turkey oak should be removed
because it competes with young pine for moisture and nutrients
[11,31,37]. The undercutter method (in which the oak stems are severed
beneath the ground surface) is the most effective eradication method.
However, partial eradication by furrowing does not disturb the soil as
much as undercutting. Basal and stump sprays, using 2,4,5-T, also
control turkey oak [31]. The best time to eradicate turkey oak is late
April to early May because carbohydrate root reserves are lowest when
new leaves reach their full size [37]. Turkey oak removed by mechanical
chopping on a Florida sandhill site did not recover for at least 4 years
[9].



The removal of turkey oak to plant pine results in a pronounced
reduction in food for wildlife. If the goal is to reproduce a longleaf
pine community for wildlife habitat as well as timber production, some
turkey oak should be left. If the best acorn producers are left in the
stand, a well-stocked, mature stand of turkey oak can be thinned by 50
percent without affecting acorn production [11,21].



In north-central South Carolina, turkey oak is susceptible to oak wilt
(Ceratocystis fagacearum), and in central Florida, curculionid weevils
(Curculio spp.) attack turkey oak acorns [11].

Oak acorns are generally low in protein, phosphorus, nitrogen, and fiber
but high in crude fat. Because acorns in the black oak subgenus have
more crude fat, they provide more digestible energy than those in the
white oak subgenus [32].

AL
FL
GA
LA
MS
NC
SC
SD
VA

Turkey oak bark and twigs contain substances used for tanning leather [11].

Acorns of most oak species are palatable. Acorns of trees in the
black oak subgenus, such as turkey oak, are usually bitter and
less palatable than those of the white acorn subgenus [32].

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More info for the term: fruit

Flowers appear in April. The fruit takes 2 years to mature and falls in autumn. Germination takes place in very early spring [11].

More info for the terms: root collar, top-kill

If turkey oak is top-killed, it sprouts vigorously from the root collar. Turkey oaks can recover easily from repeated top-kill because sprouting individuals may have more than 85 percent of their biomass underground. If the crown is killed immediately, the root collar sprouts more vigorously than if the crown dies slowly. A slowly dying crown retains apical dominance, which suppresses sprouting and uses up root reserves [29].

Small oaks sprout more vigorously than large oaks. Turkey oaks of an intermediate size [3.1 to 3.9 inches (8-10 cm) in d.b.h.] had the lowest survival after a spring fire in Florida because they were too small to be immune from crown mortality, but too large to be vigorous sprouters [29].

More info for the terms: adventitious, tree

Tree with adventitious bud/root crown/soboliferous species root sucker

More info for the terms: hypogeal, litter, monoecious, seed, stratification, tree, xeric

Seed production and dissemination: Turkey oak is monoecious. Acorns are produced every year. Average annual acorn production for open-grown trees 5 inches (13 cm) in d.b.h. and larger is 0.4 to 1.2 pounds (0.18-0.54 kg) per tree. The heavy acorns fall in autumn and do not roll far from their source. Small mammals do not disperse acorns far, and most of these acorns are eaten [11]. Scrub jays, and possibly other birds, disperse acorns [10].

Germination and seedling establishment: Germination capacity is high, but the moisture content of the acorns must not drop below 20 to 30 percent for germination to occur [25]. Litter protects the acorn from extreme temperatures. Turkey oak acorns require a 60 to 90 day cold stratification period. Hypogeal germination occurs very early in the spring. Consequently, seedlings become well established before the hot weather commences [11].

Although roots are generally deep and extensive, a thick mat of fibrous turkey oak roots were concentrated in the top 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm) of soil in a xeric Florida sandhill [1].

Vegetative reproduction: Turkey oak sprouts vigorously from the root crown when top-killed [11].

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More info for the terms: hardwood, xeric

Turkey oak is shade intolerant [11]. It has become dominant in former longleaf pine sites which were logged. On xeric sandhill sites, turkey oak will replace longleaf pine in the absence of frequent fire [11,22], and it will replace evergreen scrub forests if they are burned [7].

The turkey oak sandhill community is a stable fire-maintained disclimax [7,17]. In the absence of fire, turkey oak matures, the canopy closes, and shade tolerant species become established. Evergreen scrub oak or southern mixed hardwood forests will replace turkey oak forests [19]. If fire is too frequent, young turkey oak will be suppressed and replaced by longleaf pine and wiregrass [7].

The currently accepted scientific name of turkey oak is Quercus laevis
Walt. [11,15]. It has been placed within the black oak subgenus
Erythrobalanus [25]. There are no recognized varieties, subspecies, or
forms. Turkey oak hybridizes with southern red oak (Q. falcata),
bluejack oak (Q. incana), laurel oak (Q. laurifolia), and water oak (Q.
nigra) [11,15].

More info for the term: fuel

Turkey oak is too small on average to be commercially important, but its hard wood is excellent fuel [11].

Turkey oak is commonly associated with longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), bluejack oak (Quercus incana), and sand (dwarf) post oak (Q. stellata var. margaretta). Depending on location it can also be associated with sand pine (Pinus clausa), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), southern red oak (Q. falcata), live oak (Q. uirginiana), blackjack oak (Q. marilandica), sand hickory (Carya pallida), mockernut hickory (C. tomentosa), and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Understory, depending on the part of the range considered, can include sassafras (Sassafras albidum), persimmon (Diospyros uirginiana), pawpaw (Asimina spp.), dwarf huckleberry, deerberry, and tree sparkleberry (Vaccinium spp.), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), gopher-apple (Geobalanus oblongifolius), blackberry (Rubus spp.), crooked wood (Lyonia spp.), scrub hickory (Carya floridana), myrtle oak Quercus myrtifolia), Chapman oak (Q. chapmanii), sand live oak (Q. uirginiana var. geminata), and poison-sumac (Toxicodendron vernix). Common ground cover plants include wiregrass (Aristida spp.), bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Heterotheca spp., and legumes (10,21,24).

Three forest cover types include turkey oak (6)-Longleaf Pine-Scrub Oak (Society of American Foresters Type 71), Southern Scrub Oak (Type 72), and Sand Pine (Type 69).

Temperatures average 7° to 16° C (45° to 60° F) during January and 27° to 28° C (80° to 82° F) during July. Rainfall ranges from 1040 to 1780 mm/yr (41 to 70 in), averaging 1350 mm (53 in). Growing season precipitation ranges from 250 to 460 mm (10 to 18 in) during March, April, and May; 300 to 660 mm (12 to 26 in) during June, July, and August; and from 200 to 460 mm (8 to 18 in) during September, October, and November. The mean length of the frost-free period ranges between 270 and 330 days (18).

Turkey oak was found to be susceptible to oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) in north-central South Carolina (26). In central Florida curculionid weevils (Curculio spp.) were found in 81.2 percent of the acorn crop from 40 turkey oak trees in 1960 and in 36.2 percent of the crop from the same trees in 1962 (10).

Turkey oak is monoecious; staminate flowers are borne in naked aments and pistillate flowers in flowered spikes on the same tree (23). The flowers appear in April or late spring. The fruit (a nut, called an acorn) requires 2 years to mature (25).

Turkey oak hybridizing with southern red, bluejack, laurel, and water (Q. nigra) oaks results in the following hybrids (15): Quercus falcata (Q. x blufftonensis Trel.), Q. incana (Q. x asheana Little), Q. laurifolia (Q. x mellichamp Trel.), and Q. nigra (Q. x walteriana Ashe).

Turkey oak is a moderately fast to fast-growing tree with a relatively short life span. It grows to a height of 6 to 15 m (20 to 50 ft), rarely to 20 m (65 ft) (5). The largest turkey oak on record, growing near Branford, FL, measured 25 m (83 ft) in height, with a d.b.h. of 66 cm (25.8 in), and a crown spread of 20 m (67 ft) (19). In northwest Florida, the density of turkey oak in a stand of large hardwoods, 9 cm (3.5 in) in d.b.h. or larger, ranged from 7,351 to 7,467 stems/ha (2,975 to 3,022 stems/ acre), while in another stand of small hardwoods, 9 cm (3.5 in) in d.b.h. or smaller, density ranged from 8,107 to 8,261 stems/ha (3,281 to 3,343/acre). Turkey oak accounted for 75 percent of the hardwood stems in the stand of large hardwoods and 72 percent in the stand of smaller hardwoods (2).

The relative abundance of noncommercial species in 57 study plots located in the sandhills of northwest Florida, based on stems per hectare (acre), was as follows: turkey oak, 4,584 (1,855) or 47 percent of the total; sand post oak, 1,735 (702); bluejack oak, 1,527 (618); saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens), 1,273 (515); and persimmon, 566 (299) (4).

A volume table (table 1) was developed from data on turkey oaks growing on a deep sand ridge in Putnam County, FL (7). Measurements of 20 mature turkey oaks growing on the Ocala National Forest in central Florida, averaging 38.9 years in age and ranging from 24 to 49 years, was as follows (10):


Item Average Range       Age, yr 39.9 24 to 49 Height, rn 10.3 7.6 to 12.5 D.b.h., ern 18.5 15.7 to 24.6 Radial wood growth for 10 years, cm 2.3 1.4 to 5.1 Ground area covered by crown, m² 21.55 7.6 to 36.9 Height, ft 33.9 25 to 41 D.b.h., in 7.3 6.2 to 9.7 Radial wood growth for 10 years, in 0.92 0.56 to 2.02 Ground area covered by crown, ft² 232 82 to 397 Table 1- Merchantable volume for turkey oak (adapted from 7)¹ D.b.h. Total height 5.0 m or 16 ft 10.0 m or 33 ft 15.0 m or 49 ft 20.0 m or 66 ft cm m³ 10  -- 0.02 0.05 0.09 14 0.02 0.06 0.1 0.13 18 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.19 22 0.16 0.19 0.23 0.26 26 0.25 0.28 0.32 0.35 30 0.35 0.39 0.42 0.46 34 0.47 0.51 0.54 0.58 38 0.6 0.64 0.67 0.71  cm  ft³       3.9  -- 0.6 1.8 3 5.5 0.9 2.1 3.4 4.6 7.1 3 4.2 5.5 6.7 8.7 5.6 6.9 8.1 9.3 10.2 8.8 10 11.2 12.5 11.8 12.4 13.7 14.9 16.2 13.4 16.6 17.9 19.1 20.4 15 21.3 22.6 23.8 25
¹ The table was constructed for the regression: merchantable volume in ft³ = 0.1057 (d.b.h.)² $0.075 (total height) = 3.57. Standard error of the estimate =²1.00 ft³. Each volume represents the merchantable portion of the stem from a 0.3 m (1.0 ft) stump to the top of the last 1.2 m (4.1 ft) section with a minimum diameter outside bark of 10.2 cm (4.0 in).

The effects of logging are favorable to turkey oak which is classed as intolerant of shade. Fire favors the dominance of more fire-resistant pine. Where fire is an almost yearly occurrence, the herbaceous understory does not become thick enough to support fire of sufficient severity to seriously retard turkey oak. When the understory has accumulated for 3 to 4 years it will carry fire hot enough to kill even large turkey oaks (13).

Establishment of pine plantations on the sandhills of northeast Florida necessitates almost complete removal of oaks and grass that compete for soil moisture on these dry sites (3,4).

The following characteristics of turkey oaks have contributed to their predominance on sandhill sites: short afterripening period of the acorns with subsequent germination before adverse conditions of summer; vertical leaf orientation, a phototropic response, which may act as a protective mechanism against intense light and high temperature; and development of a deep, extensive root system in seedlings (21).

Initially, the young turkey oak seedling develops a long taproot. As the seedling grows, the root system develops much more extensively in comparison with the aboveground stem. This well-developed root system provides the plant with a greater absorbing surface for possible contact with minerals and remote supplies of water as the surface sand dries out. Roots from separate trees will graft together (21,22).

In central Florida, turkey oak seed production was sampled on 40 trees over a 7-year period (10). The trees failed to produce fruit only 1 year. Average fruit production, based on an average weight per fallen acorn of 2.55 g (0.09 oz) and an average stand density of 178 trees per hectare (72/acre), was 150 ± 27 kg/ha (134 24 lb/acre). Production ranged from a high of 312 76 kg/ha (278 ± 68 lb/acre) to a low of 24 ± 8 kg/ha (21 ± 7 lb/acre).

Acorn production for two turkey oak stands and 10 open-grown trees was studied at Georgetown, SC (8). Average annual acorn production for open-grown trees, 13 cm (5 in) in d.b.h. and larger, was 0.18 to 0.54 kg (0.4 to 1.2 lb) per tree and 0.05 to 0.23 kg (0.1 to 0.5 lb) per tree for those of similar size growing under stand conditions. Average weight of green, fresh acorns varied from 4.6 to 6.0 g (0.16 to 0.21 oz). Variation in acorn crops occurred annually between stands and individual trees.

Stand density has a minimum influence on acorn production of individual trees. A mature, unthinned stand of 370 trees per hectare (150/acre) may be thinned up to 50 percent without significantly reducing acorn production when the best producers are left in the stand (10).

The heavy fruits do not roll far from their source. Small animals do not help their dissemination to any marked degree; instead they prevent dispersion by eating the fruits. Rodents are the worst offenders (21).

Based on two samples, average germinative capacity was 82 percent after a cold stratification period of 60 to 90 days (21). Seeds were placed in medium sand with a day temperature equal to 27° C (81° F) and a night temperature of 23° C (73° F). For one sample, cleaned seeds per kilogram totaled 871 (395/lb) (23).

In the sandhills, acorns are subjected to great extremes of temperature if they are not buried under litter. If conditions are favorable, germination takes place the following spring. Germination is hypogeal. Studies of dormancy and afterripening indicated that turkey oak acorns required an outdoor afterripening of only 2 months. This may make it possible for them to become established during the very early spring before they are faced with the summer heat and high temperature.

Turkey oak grows on dry pinelands and sandy ridges or high dunes. These hilly regions lie primarily in the central peninsula of Florida and the sandhills of the two Carolinas. Soils of these droughty sites are Entisols; they often lack clay-size particles within 3.0 m (10 ft) of the surface, are low in organic matter, and are strongly acid. Depth to water table is more than 152 cm (60 in) (18,21).

The seasoned wood of turkey oak is excellent fuel and widely used as a firewood. The bark and twigs contain valuable materials for tanning leather. The light-brown to light reddish-brown wood is close-grained, hard, and heavy, but the trees do not grow large enough, on the average, to have timber value (5,16,23,24).

Turkey oak acorns have been identified as a major food source for black bear, white-tailed deer, northern bobwhite, and wild turkey in Florida (9,11,17,20). Site preparation decreased game-food plants by virtually eliminating the scrub oak and the acorns and browse they produce, and, except for the first few years after chopping, substituted no food plants of comparable value (12). In longleaf pine-turkey oak habitat in central Florida, complete removal of all turkey oaks on 259-ha (1-mi²) plots caused a pronounced reduction in deer use, especially during the fall (1).

Oak root collars sprout freely. Fire kills the aboveground stem but stumps sprout vigorously, resulting in an increased number of stems (25).

Fagaceae -- Beech family

Richard F. Harlow

Turkey oak (Quercus laevis), also called Catesby oak or scrub oak, is a small, moderately fast to fast-growing tree found on dry sandy soils of ridges, pinelands, and dunes, often in pure stands. This oak is not commercially important because of its size, but the hard, close-grained wood is an excellent fuel. The acorns are an important food to wildlife. Turkey oak is so named for its 3-lobed leaves which resemble a turkey's foot.

Turkey oak is limited to the dry pinelands and sandy ridges of the southeastern Coastal Plain from southeast Virginia to central Florida and west to southeast Louisiana (14). It reaches its maximum development in a subtropical climate. This oak grows on approximately 3.5 to 4 million ha (9 to 10 million acres) of land in Florida alone (27).


-The native range of turkey oak.

Quercus laevis, the turkey oak, is a member of the red oak group of oaks. It is native to the southeastern United States. The name turkey oak derives from the resemblance of the leaves to a turkey's foot. A Turkish and southern European species Quercus cerris is also commonly referred to as Turkey oak, so Quercus laevis is sometimes referred to as American turkey oak to distinguish it from the European species.