|
Sawtooth Oak
Quercus acutissima
Identification
Sawtooth oak is a
medium to large deciduous tree that is related to the native oak
species. The form and growth pattern of sawtooth oak can be compared
to southern red oak (Quercus falcata). The alternately
arranged leaves of sawtooth oak are somewhat lance-shaped with
serrated margins. The leaves somewhat resemble the leaves of
American chestnut (Castanea dentata) but differ in that they
are somewhat tomentose and chestnut leaves have no hairs. Sawtooth
oak also has the typical clustered leaf buds characteristic of the
genus Quercus. It blooms in the same fashion as native oaks, and
produces an incredibly large number of acorns resembling those of
white oak (Quercus alba) except being delivered in caps
covered with soft bristles.
Origin
China
Habitat
Highly adaptable,
but usually grows best on sunny ridge tops with deep, loamy soil.
Not highly shade tolerant, but adaptable to dry, rocky conditions
and poor soil. It is tolerant of urban conditions, such as air
pollution and confined spaces. Planted as a curiosity tree because
of its strange foliage and fruits, it is often found in parks and
public campgrounds. Commonly used as a street tree in urban
settings.
Ecological Threat
Sawtooth Oak
produces fruit (acorns) at a very young age compared to native oaks.
Studies have shown that a sawtooth oak can produce fruit as early as
five years of age. This early mast production has lead to sawtooth
oak being planted as a wildlife tree in natural areas and parks.
Unfortunately, sawtooth oak produces a large amount of acorns, and
the seedlings are more aggressive growers than native oaks or other
tree species. For this reason, they represent a threat to the native
plant community. It has been discovered that they escape from
residential or wildlife plantings and become invasive in adjacent
areas, pushing out native trees and shrubs.
Recommended Native Alternatives
These pages are designed to give the
layperson a general overview of non-native invasive plants commonly
found in the upper Hiwassee River watershed. For more comprehensive
and technical information about a particular species, visit one of
the web sites from our
Links
page. |
