Post Oak (Iron Oak)
Quercus stellata · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Distinctly cruciform or cross-shaped, with 5 lobes (the middle pair of lobes being square-cut or spreading at right angles, resembling a Maltese cross)
Margin
Entire to coarsely lobed with rounded sinuses
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, stout midrib and raised primary lateral veins
Key Features
The distinctive cross-shaped (cruciform) leaf with squarish, widely spreading central lobes, leathery texture, and starry (stellate) hairs on the lower surface
Description
Quercus stellata, commonly known as the post oak, is a medium-sized deciduous tree recognized for its dense crown and extremely durable wood. Its most famous feature is the unique cross-shaped leaf. The bark is dark brown, rough, and deeply furrowed into scaly ridges. It produces small acorns maturing in one season.
Habitat
Dry, poor, rocky, or sandy upland soils, ridges, and barrens; highly drought-tolerant and often found in open woodlands and dry oak-hickory forests
Native Range
Native to the eastern and central United States, stretching from Massachusetts west to Kansas, and south to Florida and Texas