VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus lyrata | Overcup Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Overcup oak wood is used for lumber and cooperage.  It is of low quality
when compared to the wood of other white oaks [39].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Ducks, wild turkeys, squirrels, and white-tailed deer eat overcup oak
acorns [18].  The large size of overcup oak acorns renders them less
suitable for duck food than other acorns [6].

Overcup oaks are planted to improve wildlife habitat [39].


PALATABILITY : 
Overcup oak acorns are low in palatability to fox squirrels when
compared to other acorns [33].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Overcup oak is planted as an ornamental [39].

Acorns of most oak species have been used as food by humans.
The bark of oak trees has been used to make dyes, and for tannin
extraction [23].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Overcup oak is susceptible to heart rots after injuries, particularly
by fire [39].

Overcup oak is favored by clearcutting or group cutting on poorly
drained soils; it may be the only commercial species that grows well on
wet bottomland sites [11].  In Missouri, the removal of more desirable
species such as pin oak (Quercus palustris) may increase the proportion
of overcup oak.  High early summer temperatures significantly reduce
overcup oak growth.  Soil moisture is not a limiting factor on
floodplain sites; soil is apparently moist enough for growth even in dry
years [38].  Flooding from February to July is beneficial to
timber-sized overcup oak trees, but not other size classes [16].

Natural reforestation of bottomland oldfields now favors tree species
that tolerate dry soils because a large proportion of formerly wet sites
are subject to flood control.  Since overcup oak is dependent on
overflow or floodwaters for seed dispersal, it has to be planted on
these sites if its presence is desired [32].

Post harvest site preparation for regeneration of overcup oak/water
hickory stands on low, flat sites or sloughs resulted in good numbers of
new overcup oak seedlings, regardless of treatment.  The treatments
included 1) injecting all residual stems with herbicides, 2) leaving
residual basal area of desirables uninjected and injecting the remainder
with herbicide, or 3) shearing the entire site with a "V"-blade tractor
[20].

Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii) is often used to replace overcup oak on sites
that have reduced flooding or stream flows [22].  Stream channelization
projects result in sites of varying stability over time.  Overcup oak is
only associated with channelized sites that are relatively stable [19].

The inconsistency of stump sprouting makes this an unreliable source of
new stems for stand regeneration [39].

Related categories for Species: Quercus lyrata | Overcup Oak