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Quercus alba

L.

White Oak

G5Secure Found in 61 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138617
Element CodePDFAG05020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFagales
FamilyFagaceae
GenusQuercus
Other Common Names
Chêne blanc (FR) white oak (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Quercus alba regularly hybridizes with other species in the white oak group, some of which have been named (Flora of North America 1997).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2020-12-12
Change Date1984-08-29
Edition Date2020-12-12
Edition AuthorsFrances, A.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Quercus alba, commonly known as White Oak, is a widespread tree occurring throughout much of eastern North America. It occurs in areas that have been impacted by threats such as habitat loss and invasive species. Its durable, high-quality wood was used commercially for building ships and furniture. It is still used today but at a smaller scale. Despite these threats, Quercus alba remains a widespread species at low risk of extinction.
Range Extent Comments
Quercus alba occurs throughout eastern North America from Canada (Ontario and Quebec) south to Florida, and west to Texas and Minnesota.
Occurrences Comments
Quercus alba is known from over 1,000 observations, providing an estimate that the number of occurrences is greater than 300.
Threat Impact Comments
Much of eastern North America has been impacted by habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats. However, since Quercus alba is a widespread species occurring in many different habitats throughout its range, the effects of threats to this species is assumed to be low. The durable wood of Quercus alba has been used commercially for building, and is still used today at a smaller scale.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Quercus alba occurs in temperate deciduous forests, generally in drier sites with deeper, well-drained loam soils. It can also occur on upland slopes and barrens (Flora of North America 1997).

Ecology

Quercus alba flowers in the spring.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - MixedBarrens
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
IndianaS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
VermontS5Yes
MaineS4Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
NebraskaS1Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
KansasS3Yes
District of ColumbiaS3Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
DelawareS5Yes
New JerseyS5Yes
FloridaS3Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
KentuckyS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS5Yes
QuebecS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge - smallSerious - moderateInsignificant/negligible or past
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingLarge - smallSerious - moderateInsignificant/negligible or past
5.3.2 - Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]Large - smallSerious - moderateInsignificant/negligible or past

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived, DECIDUOUS
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (61)
Alabama (2)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Arkansas (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
Georgia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ripple HollowShawnee National Forest3,788
Indiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mogan RidgeHoosier National Forest8,435
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Mississippi (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sandy Creek Rare Ii AreaHomochitto National Forest2,620
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
North Carolina (12)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Linville Gorge AdditionPisgah National Forest2,809
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Slide HollowPisgah National Forest193
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Pennsylvania (3)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Hellhole ExtFrancis Marion National Forest891
Tennessee (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Virginia (22)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Crawford MountainGeorge Washington National Forest9,892
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
References (3)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.