POST OAK - Quercus stellata, Wang.
SAWMILL MEN GROUP POST OAK with other white oaks in the manufacture of lumber since the wood properties are similar. Woods fires scar the trunks or trees, exposing live wood. This makes an easy opening for decay to hollow the center of wounded trees. As a result of this decay final gross board-foot volume is reduced.
Probably the key identifying feature of post oak is its cross-shaped leaf. Being alternate and simple, it usually has five lobes, is shiny green and fuzzy yellow below.
The acorn is 3/4 inch log and 1/2 inch wide. It is enclosed for about one-third of its length in a bowl-shaped cup. Forest wildlife such as the gray and fox squirrel, raccoon, quail, deer, wild turkey and ruffed grouse make this acorn a part of their diet.
Twigs are moderately stout, orange-tan in color. They are wooly at first, darker and smooth later. The buds are globe to egg-shaped and wooly. The bark is light brown and divided by deep furrows and scaly ridges.
Found in almost every county in the state, post oak seldom exceeds 60 feet in height. Many poor timber growing areas support stands of post and blackjack oak. Under average conditions post oak is a very slow growing tree.
Post oak wood is used for the same purposes as white oak except for stave bolts because of defects.
