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Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked[1]. A staple food for several native North American Indian tribes[1]. A sweet taste[2][3][4][5][6]. The seed is about 2cm long and wide[7][8], it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. If the seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost[5]. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

Unknown part

Material uses

A mulch of the leaves repels slugs, grubs etc, though fresh leaves should not be used as these can inhibit plant growth[9].

Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff[10]. The seed cups are used as buttons[11].

Wood - hard, heavy, close-grained. The trees are generally too small to be of use commercially, though the wood is used locally for lumber and also makes a good fuel[12].

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc[10].

The acorns have been eaten to give greater sexual potency[1].

The root bark is analgesic and cathartic[1]. A decoction has been used to treat postpartum pain and facilitate delivery of the placenta[1].

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[13]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly. Division of suckers in the dormant season[13].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Quercus gambelii. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[14][13]. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[8]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[8].

Prefers warmer summers than are usually experienced in Britain, trees often grow poorly in this country and fail to properly ripen their wood resulting in frost damage overwinter[8]. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young[13]. A slow growing shrub that often produces suckers and grows as a thicket[15][12], it occasionally makes a small tree[12]. Seed production is cyclical, a year when good crops are produced is followed by several years of light production[12]. The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed ripening in its first year[8][12]. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[8].

This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[16][8].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Quercus gambelii. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Quercus gambelii.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Quercus gambelii
Genus
Quercus
Family
Fagaceae
Imported References
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
Soil Texture
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
Life Cycle
Growth Rate
Mature Size
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type

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"image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Gambel oak bark.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber (1948-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.2 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.5 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.313.4 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  14. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  15. ? Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)
  16. ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)

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Facts about "Quercus gambelii"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyFagaceae +
Belongs to genusQuercus +
Has binomial nameQuercus gambelii +
Has common nameShin Oak +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part + and Seed +
Has edible useCoffee + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has growth rateSlow +
Has hardiness zone4 +
Has imageGambel oak bark.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useButtons +, Fuel +, Repellent +, Tannin + and Wood +
Has mature height4.5 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAnalgesic +, Astringent + and Cathartic +
Has primary imageGambel oak bark.jpg +
Has search namequercus gambelii + and shin oak +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceLoamy + and Clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameQuercus gambelii +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii +, Quercus gambelii + and Quercus gambelii +