VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus arizonica | Arizona White Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Arizona white oak is used for fuel and infrequently for furniture
[30,56].  The wood is close grained, heavy, hard, and strong [21,41,80].
Trees are seldom straight enough or large enough to be of commercial
value [21].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Arizona white oak acorns are consumed by cattle and wildlife [32];
however, acorns of other species are used in preference to Arizona white
oak acorns [21].  Arizona white oak acorns comprised 2 percent of the
food volume in white-tailed deer stomach contents collected in late fall
in south-central Arizona [48].  Arizona white oak was one of the most
common trees browsed by white-tailed deer in oak-grasslands and mountain
foothills of Arizona [67].  In southeastern Arizona, Arizona white oak
is used extensively by neomigratory birds for foraging during the
breeding season [6].  Diverse amphibians, reptiles, and mammals have
been recorded in the woodland communites where Arizona white oak occurs
[17,45].


PALATABILITY : 
Arizona white oak is highly palatable to white-tailed and mule deer in
all seasons [79].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Young Arizona white oak twigs and leaves are rated as poor forage for
wildlife [31].


COVER VALUE : 
White-tailed deer utilize mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.)-
pinyon-Arizona white oak habitats for cover [67].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
No direct reference to Arizona white oak acorn consumption by humans was
found in the literature.  Arizona white oak belongs to the white oak
subgenus (Lepidobalanus).  Edible acorns are a characteristic of the
group [34].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Arizona white oak stands have been managed under pinyon-juniper
silvicultural systems [28].  On a fuelwood management area in the
Huachuca Mountains of Arizona, three areas in oak woodland were cut at
different times and intensities to assess harvest effects.  Arizona
white oak was codominant with Emory oak.  Harvest at two intensities (50
and 80%) occurred 7, 15, and 20 years prior to assessment.  Structural
changes to the overstory, such as trees being shrublike due to prolific
stump sprouting, still persisted after 20 years [65].

Volume equations are available for estimating biomass of Arizona white
oak [14,15].  Volume, growth, and mortality estimates and simulation
models of the oak woodlands that include Arizona white oak are discussed
in the literature [24].  Multivariate equations are available for
predicting Arizona white oak regeneration after harvest [50].

Cattle graze on most of the Arizona encinal woodlands where Arizona
white oak occurs [47].  Preferential grazing may favor Arizona white oak
establishment [49].  However, poor oak recruitment during the late
1960's in Arizona was attributed to the effects of livestock grazing and
summer drought [56].  Current recruitment was not found in the
literature.  Burning and subsequent treatment with herbicides prevented
Arizona white oak from establishing in a game management area on the
Tonto National Forest in Arizona [72].

Szaro and King [74] developed sampling methods for classification
of the Arizona riparian plant communities in which Arizona white oak
occurs.

Arizona white oak is susceptible to the wood decay fungus, Inonotus
andersonii [23].

Related categories for Species: Quercus arizonica | Arizona White Oak