VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus shumardii | Shumard Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Shumard oak wood is close-grained, hard, strong, and heavy [45].  This
wood is superior to that of other red oaks; it is marketed as "red oak",
and is not distinguished commercially from red oak species.  The wood is
used for veneer, cabinets, furniture, flooring, interior trim, and
lumber [11,45].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
In Texas, Shumard oak is preferred browse for white-tailed deer in Ashe
juniper (Juniperus ashei) woodlands [3].

Shumard oak acorns are excellent food for wildlife; they are consumed by
songbirds, wild turkeys, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and various
species of squirrels [11].


PALATABILITY : 
Shumard oak acorns were intermediate in palatability to fox squirrels
when compared with those of eight other southern oaks [30].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Nutritional values (percent dry weight) for Shumard oak acorns are as
follows [8]:

crude fat               9.8
total carbohydrates    29.3
total protein           3.8
phosphorus              0.06
calcium                 0.27
magnesium               0.06



COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Shumard oak had one of the highest survival rates of nine oak species
planted on minespoils in Illinois [4].  It exhibited outstanding growth
on cast overburden in Illinois and Indiana [37].  In Mississippi,
reforestation of agricultural lands to bottomland hardwoods was
successful with direct-seeded Shumard oak (in addition to other
species).  Sites were seeded without preparation.  Weeds were controlled
on one site, where Shumard oak had better growth and survivorship than
at the other sites [1].

Shumard oak seedlings have been planted successfully in reforestation
projects on eroded ridgetops in Mississippi [14].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Shumard oak is planted as an ornamental [38].

Shumard oak acorns are bitter, but are edible if the tannins are leached
out.  They can be ground and used as flour, roasted and ground to make
coffee, or eaten whole [12,22].  Native Americans had many uses for the
bark and acorns of oaks, probably including Shumard oak [22].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Shumard oak can be successfully direct seeded or planted as seedlings
[20,39].  Soil fertilization does not improve establishment success
[39].  Height growth of direct-seeded Shumard oaks is slow compared to
that of planted stock; growth rates are sufficient to achieve wildlife
habitat management objectives but not for timber production [1].

Acorns with a moisture content below 20 to 30 percent are not likely to
germinate [48].  Seed moisture for Shumard oaks can be measured by using
microwave ovens [7].

Diseases of Shumard oak include oakleaf blister, oak wilt, and various
wood rotting fungi (Fomes spp., Polyporus spp., and Stereum spp.)  [11].

Insect defoliators that attack Shumard oak, but are not species
specific, include June beetles, orange-striped oakworms, cankerworms,
forest tent caterpillars, yellow-necked caterpillars, variable oakleaf
caterpillars, and red-humped oakworms [11].  Shumard oak acorns are
subject to attack by acorn weevils [26].

Related categories for Species: Quercus shumardii | Shumard Oak