Quercus stellata

Star-shaped hairs on leaves. Top lobes of leaf form a cross.

The following information applies to the genus Quercus: Animals that eat its acorns: Mallard duck, Pintail, Wood duck, Clapper rail, Animals that eat its buds and acorns: White-winged dove, Greater prairie chicken, Lesser prairie chicken, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey. Animals that eat acorns: Common crow, Eastern crow, Red-shafted flicker, Yellow-shafted flicker, Purple grackle and/or bronzed, Blue jay, Florida blue jay, Meadowlark, White-breasted nuthatch, Yellow-bellied sapsucker (sap), Starling, Brown thrasher, Tufted titmouse, Downy woodpecker, Red-bellied woodpecker, Red-cockaded woodpecker, Red-headed woodpecker, Carolina wren, Pocket gopher, Meadow mouse, White-footed mouse, Wood rat , Rock squirrel. Animals that eat acorns, bark, and wood: Black bear, Beaver, Ring-tailed cat, Gray fox, Red fox, Muskrat, Opossum, Eastern cottontail, Raccoon, Flying squirrel, Fox squirrel, Gray squirrel, Red squirrel, Animals that eat twigs, foliage, and acorns: White-tailed deer, Peccary (Martin et al. 1951).

The Acadians of south Louisiana called all oaks "chene" which is the old French name for that genus. The Acadian French name for an acorn is "gland" and the wood is called "cheniere" (Holmes 1990). The name "cheniere" is also used to refer old beach remnants in the coastal marsh where live oaks grow. Post oaks are found in dry upland woods, frequently on sandy soil, of Louisiana and south to central Texas.

Dry upland, sandy clays, gravel, dry poor or rich soil.

All of the white oaks are heavy, very hard, and strong. The wood is subject to large shrinkage during seasoning, and extra care must be taken to avoid checking and warping. Pores of the heartwood are impervious to liquids, making white oak the only successful wood for use as tight cooperage. Large amounts of higher grades are used for bourbon barrels. The heartwood is comparatively decay resistant, more so than that of red oaks. White oaks are above average in all machining operations except shaping. All oaks in the white oak group share just about the same properties and uses. Most white oak is made into lumber for flooring, furniture, tight cooperage, millwork, timbers, handles, boxes, and crates. Perhaps the largest amounts go into high-quality flooring, barrels, kegs, and casks. It is prized for use of construction of ships and boats.