Identifying characteristics:
As a young tree, the shingle oak has a pyramidal shape similar to the pin oak (Q. palustris), developing
a more open, rounded crown with drooping lower branches as it matures. The
leaves are alternate, elliptic or
oblong with entire, slightly wavy margins, and a sharp bristle at the tip.
The leaf blade is 3 to 6 inches long, dark, glossy green above, and pale
brown and finely hairy beneath. After turning yellow or reddish-brown in
late autumn, the leaves (though deciduous) fade to light brown and remain
on the tree through most of the winter. The male and female flowers are produced in separate catkins in
April and May. Borne on short stalks on the previous season's growth (solitary
or in pairs), the acorns are oval and
0.5 to 0.75 inches long. A bowl-shaped cup of thin, appressed red-brown
scales covers one-third to one-half the nut. The buds are ovoid,
pointed at the tip, and are covered with light brown, overlapping scales
which are finely hairy along the margins. The gray-brown bark
is smooth, becoming ridged, fissured and scaly on the lower trunk.
Similar species:
Ecology:
Distribution: This species occurs across the southern third
of Iowa, but is common only in the eastern part of this range. It is native
to central and eastern US, from Pennsylvania to northeastern Alabama, and
as far west as Arkansas and Nebraska. It is one of the most abundant oaks
of the lower Ohio Valley.
Habitat: The shingle oak adapts to a wider range of conditions than most native oaks. This species, although normally considered a lowland tree, may occur on various sites from rich, moist river banks to dry, upland ridges. Because it is intolerant of shading, it is characteristic of subclimax forests rather than fully developed forests. Although hardy from zone 4 to 8, it does not do well in zone 8. This species is reliably hardy only in the southern half of Iowa and is common on the strip-mined soils of the southeastern part of the state. The shingle oak suffers from most diseases and pests common to oaks. Shingle and pin oaks are especially sensitive to alkaline soils, which can cause iron chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves), a condition noticeable in some of the smaller shingle oaks along Stange Road.
Uses:
Wood: The shingle oak is relatively unimportant as a timber
tree, with no distinctive uses today. The word "imbricaria"
is Latin for "overlapping," and the common name originated when
the early settlers in Illinois used the wood for shingles and shakes
because it was easy to split. The wood is similar to that of red oak and
is not distinguished from that species when sold.
Wildlife: Although the kernel is bitter, it is an important food source for various wildlife species such as turkeys, deer, squirrels, quail and waterfowl.
Horticulture: Because it transplants more easily than most oaks and is reasonably tolerant of urban conditions, the shingle oak deserves to be planted more widely in southern Iowa. The dark green leaves and the symmetrical shape make it an ideal street or lawn tree, although, like most oaks, it is a rather slow grower. It makes a good hedge plant because it responds well to pruning and retains its leaves throughout the winter.
