Quercus lyrata

Quercus lyrata, the overcup oak, is an oak in the white oak group (Quercus sect. Quercus). The common name, overcup oak, refers to its acorns that are mostly enclosed within the acorn cup.[3] It is native to lowland wetlands in the eastern and south-central United States, in all the coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, inland as far as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. There are historical reports of it growing in Iowa, but the species appears to have been extirpated there.[3] It is a slow-growing tree that often takes 25 to 30 years to mature. It has an estimated lifespan of 400 years.[4]

Overcup oak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Quercus
Section: Quercus sect. Quercus
Species:
Q. lyrata
Binomial name
Quercus lyrata
Synonyms[2]
  • Quercus bicolor var. lyrata (Walter) Dippel
  • Scolodrys lyrata (Walter) Raf.

Description
Overcup oak acorns, showing the nut largely enclosed by the acorn cup

Quercus lyrata is a medium-sized deciduous tree, growing as tall as 47 meters (154 feet), with an average height of 24 meters (79 ft).[5]The trunk averaging up to 80 cm (31 in) in diameter, or rarely to 140 cm (55 in). It is a slow-growing tree that often takes 25 to 30 years to mature.[6]

Quercus lyrata has simple leaves that are alternately arranged.[7] On average the leaves are 6 to 8 inches long. They are broad, deeply lobed, and somewhat lyre-shaped (lyrate). Leaves have a leathery feel. They are dark green and shiny on the top while the underside is a paler gray-green with fine hairs. In the fall, leaf color varies between red, yellow, and brown. Like other oak trees, the overcup oak has clustered terminal buds.[7]

The bark of the overcup oak is light to dark grey in color with irregular bark plates. Its bark plates are deeply ridged and furrowed.[7]

Quercus lyrata has male and female flowers. The male flowers, often brown or yellow in color, form in a drooping, elongated cluster.[7] Female flowers appear as individual reddish spikes with surrounding leaves.[8]

The fruit of the overcup oak is an acorn. They are generally oval or oblong in shape, ranging from 1/2 to 1 inch in length.[7] The acorn of the overcup oak contributes to its common name. The acorns are almost entirely covered by their acorn cup, hence the name overcup.[9] The acorn cup has grey, pubescent scales. The acorns also have a unique spongy shell that make them buoyant.[10] The pericarp of overcup oak acorns is unusually large for oaks and makes up 50% of acorn mass. The pericarp only makes up 30% of mass in other oak trees. [7]

Phenology

Quercus lyrata is a monecious plant producing female and male flowers.[4] Female and male flowers begin to appear in mid-spring around April or May. The male flowers form in a drooping, elongated cluster.[7] They are often brown or yellow in color. Female flowers appear as individual reddish spikes with surrounding leaves.[8]The flowers are catkins, maturing in about 6–7 months into acorns 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) long and 2–4 cm (3⁄4–1 1⁄2 in) broad.[3] Acorns are most often distributed by water due to their buoyancy and preferred habitat. Acorns germinate best in moist soils and when covered with leaf litter. [11]

Taxonomy

Quercus lyrata was first described in 1788 by Thomas Walter,a British born American botanist.[12] It has two synonyms: Quercus bicolor and Scolodrys lyrata.[12] The word "Quercus" is of Celtic origin and means "beautiful tree." [13] The species name "lyrata" comes from the word lyrate.This refers to its lyre-shaped leaves.[13]

Distribution and Habitat
An overcup oak at the York Hill Yadkin River access in Linwood, North Carolina.

Quercus lyrata has an extensive range that extends across the central and eastern United States.[6] It is in all the coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, inland as far as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. It is found in small populations in the states of Delaware, Tennessee, Maryland, and Alabama.[14] There are historical reports of it growing in Iowa, but the species appears to have been extirpated there.[3] The overcup oak is also considered to be endangered in New Jersey.[11]

The overcup oak is most often found along floodplains, wetlands, and swamps.[4] It prefers clay type soils, generally low lying clay or silty clay. It has adapted to survive in areas that are poorly drained and have large amounts of flooding. It can withstand continuous flooding for two or more growing seasons.[4] It is one of the dominant species within an Oak- Water Hickory forest and can often be associated with Quercus phellos (Willow Oak), Ulmus americana (American Elm), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash), Carya aquatica (Water Hickory), and Acer rubrum (Red maple).[14] However, Q. lyrata is not considered a dominant species in many other types of forest ecosystems.[14]

Uses

Humans

The wood is considered less valuable, than that of other white oaks. This is due to its relatively high susceptibility to injury and disease.[7] However, it can be used for lumber and cooperage.[7] It is not often used to make quality products such as furniture.[14] It can be used as firewood and its acorns can be eaten by humans.[7] The tree can also be planted as an ornamental.

Wildlife

The overcup oak is known to provide both food and habitat to a range of wildlife. Its acorns can be eaten by small mammals and birds such as squirrels and wild turkeys.[7] The tree is considered to be somewhat deer-resistant, however, white-tail deer also eat its acorns. It also helps provide canopy cover and habitat for many species. Like many oaks, Q.Lyrata provides habitat to a variety of Lepidoptera including Eacles imperialis (imperial moth), Satyrium calanus (Banded Hairstreak), Satyrium edwardsii (Edward's Hairstreak), Strymon melinus (Gray hairstreak), Parrhasius m-album (White M Hairstreak), Erynnis horatius (Horace’s Duskywing ), and Erynnis juvenalis (Juvenal’s Duskywing).[7]

Conservation

The International Union for Conservation (IUCN) has classified Q. lyrata as least concern.[5] However, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) it is considered endangered in New Jersey. [11] There has been no comprehensive study on the population size of the overcup oak. This is due to its expansive range and assumed vast population size.[5]

Climate Change

Quercus lyrata is expected to be impacted by climate change. By 2050 it is expected to lose over 40% of its suitable habitat.[5] This extent of habitat loss could cause Q. lyrata to be reclassified by the IUCN as near-threatened or threatened. However, there are varying projections on how climate change will effect Q. lyrata.[5]

Insects

Pests that impact Q. lyrata include Bucculatrix ainsliella (oak skeletonizer), Corythucha arcuata (oak lace bug), Curculio nucum (nut weevil), and Leaf miners.[7]

Disease

Like many other oaks, Q. lyrata is susceptible to a high number of plant diseases such as chestnut blight, armillaria root rot, oak leaf blister, and powdery mildew.[7] This species is resistant to oak wilt.

References
  1. "Quercus lyrata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017. data
  2. "Quercus lyrata Walter". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List.
  3. Nixon, Kevin C. (1997). "Quercus lyrata". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 3. New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. Solomon, J. D. (1990). Quercus lyrata Walt. overcup oak. Silvics of North America, 2, 681-685.
  5. Kenny, L., Wenzell, K. & Jerome, D. 2017. Quercus lyrata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T194190A111335986. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T194190A111335986.en. Downloaded on 14 October 2020.
  6. "Quercus lyrata". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
  7. "Quercus lyrata (Oaks, Overcup Oak, Swamp Post Oak, Swamp White Oak, Water White Oak) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  8. "Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet". dendro.cnre.vt.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  9. Nixon, Kevin C. (1997). "Quercus lyrata". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). 3. New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  10. "Plants Profile for Quercus lyrata (overcup oak)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  11. "Plants Profile for Quercus lyrata (overcup oak)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  12. "International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  13. "Quercus - The Oaks | FLNPS". flnps.org. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  14. "Quercus lyrata". www.fs.fed.us. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
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