馬列蘭櫟樹

More info for the terms: density, forest, fuel, litter, prescribed fire

Blackjack oak associated with eastern redcedar is more likely to be
top-killed by fire because eastern redcedar is highly flammable and
fires tend to be hot.  A severe fire in a post oak-eastern redcedar
community in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma top-killed 92 percent of
all trees (post oak, blackjack oak, and eastern redcedar) greater than 3
inches (7.6 cm) in d.b.h.; only 13.5 percent of the top-killed blackjack
oaks and post oaks sprouted.  In the adjacent post oak-blackjack oak
forest, only 66 percent of trees greater than 3 inches (7.6 cm) were
top-killed by the fire, and 70 percent of these sprouted [40].

There is disagreement in the literature as to whether blackjack oak is
more susceptible to fire in a savanna or in a forest.  A March fire in a
central Oklahoma oak savanna top-killed most oaks smaller than 1.6
inches (4 cm) in d.b.h. and top-killed or severely damaged some trees up
to 3.5 inches (9 cm) in d.b.h.  In the adjacent post oak-blackjack oak
forest, however, few woody stems larger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in d.b.h.
were top-killed.  In the savanna, all litter was consumed, whereas only
45 percent of the litter in the adjacent forest burned.  The authors
suggest that lack of grass under a closed-canopy forest results in a
much cooler fire [23].

However, an investigation of the effects of a prescribed fire in March
in a savanna and adjacent blackjack oak-black hickory forest in central
Illinois showed the opposite effect:  savanna blackjack oaks were less
affected by fire than blackjack oaks in the adjacent closed-canopy
forest.  Patterns of fuel consumption around isolated mature blackjack
oaks in the savanna showed that fire never reached the base of the
trees.  A few trees had slightly scorched lower branches, but all trees
survived the fire.  In the closed-canopy forest, mortality of trees
[stems larger than 3.5 inches (9 cm) in d.b.h.] was high.  Three years
after the fire, the density of blackjack oak had decreased from a
prefire density of 179 trees per acre (443 trees/ha) to 74 trees per
acre (183 trees/ha).  In essence, the fire converted the closed-canopy
forest to an open-canopy forest.  Seventy-five percent of top-killed
trees had basal sprouts 1 year after the fire [2].

The difference in fire effects on blackjack oak in the Illinois savanna
and forest was attributed to the difference in fuel load.  Estimated
average fuel load was 2.5 ounces per square foot (840 g/m sq) in the
savanna and 8.0 ounces per square foot (2,671 g/m sq) in the forest.  In
the savanna, fuel load was further reduced under mature blackjack oaks
because grass growth was less in the shade created by the down-sweeping
branches, and the wind removed excess leaf litter.  In the closed-canopy
forest, understory fuels built up over time [3].

The results of these two studies indicate that the effect of fire on
blackjack oak is dependent on surface fuel load.

More info for the terms: fire use, prescribed fire

The Research Project Summary Early postfire response of southern
Appalachian
Table Mountain-pitch pine stands to prescribed fires in North Carolina and
Virginia
provides information on prescribed
fire use and postfire response

of plant community species, including blackjack
oak, that was not available

when this species review was originally written.

blackjack oak
black jack oak
black oak
jack oak
scrub oak
barren oak

More info for the terms: tree, xeric

Blackjack oak is a small to medium-sized, slow-growing, native,
deciduous tree.  It is often shrubby with a low, rounded crown.  The
contorted, down-sweeping branches remain on the tree several years after
they die [46].  Leaves are tenacious after having turned brown, often
clinging to the tree throughout the winter [50].  The acorns are about
0.4 inches (1 cm) long [41].  On poor xeric sites or in drier climates,
blackjack oak is rarely taller than 30 feet (9 m) [49,50].  On better
sites, it grows 45 to 50 feet (14-15 m) in height [15,49].  Blackjack
oak has lived to be as old as 230 years in Oklahoma [23].

Dwarfed forms of blackjack oak exist on Buzzard's Roost, Missouri, and
in the Pine Plains of New Jersey.  In Missouri, the trees are extremely
stunted (4.5 feet [1.4 m] tall), leaves and acorns are miniature, and
there is rosetting of the leaves [44].  In the New Jersey Pine Plains,
the dwarfed blackjack oaks are multistemmed with large, irregularly
shaped stools that are considerably older than the current stems.  The
height is usually less than 11 feet (3.4 m) [33].  Blackjack oak in the
Pine Plains exhibit rosetting of leaves and buds in stems roughly 10
years old or older [58].

Blackjack oak occurs in the central and eastern United States from Long
Island, New York, New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania; south to
northwestern Florida; west to central Texas, western Oklahoma and
eastern Kansas; and north to southern Iowa, central Illinois, southern
Indiana, and southern Ohio [27,28].

More info for the terms: fire frequency, fire regime, fire tolerant, frequency, root crown, seed, xeric

Blackjack oak is nearly as fire tolerant as turkey oak [43] and more
fire tolerant than post oak and black oak [19].  Smaller blackjack oaks
are easily top-killed by fire, but sprout vigorously from the root crown
[59].

Recurring fires at 6- to 8-year intervals in the Pine Plains of New
Jersey have produced and maintained a dwarfed community of pitch pine,
blackjack oak, and bear oak [19,33].  Most arborescent oak species are
restricted from the Pine Plains because they do not bear viable seed at
a young enough age to reproduce effectively at this high fire frequency.
Blackjack oak tolerates these frequent fires by sprouting vigorously
after being top-killed and by producing viable seed on the sprouts in 3
to 4 years [29,30].

In xeric sandhill communities of blackjack oak, post oak, and bluejack
oak, grass and other fuels are rare and fires only occasional.  When
fires do reach these communities, these oaks may be top-killed, but they
sprout from the root crown and the community is maintained [56].

Under a normal fire regime (fire occurring every few years), a savanna
is maintained because grass grows back faster than the woody sprouts
after a hot fire.  In the absence of fire, blackjack oak spreads and
the grass dies back [23].

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".

More info for the terms: fire suppression, forest, prescribed fire

Many present-day post oak-blackjack oak stands were former savannas.  In
the Wichita Forest Reserve in Oklahoma, the average age of stands
coincides with the advent of fire suppression in the reserve [13].
Forests may or may not revert back to savannas with prescribed burning
[23,58]. 
Prescribed fire, in conjunction with herbicides, may be
effective at eliminating blackjack oak [52].  Prescribed fire in 4-year
rotations may be effective at preventing blackjack oak expansion into
prairies [59].

More info on this topic.

More info for the term: phanerophyte

  
   Phanerophyte

More info for the terms: herbaceous, mesic, serpentine soils, xeric

A semixeric species, blackjack oak is found on xeric sand deposits and
on extremely dry upper slopes and ridges [56].  It generally occurs on
southerly or westerly aspects [34].  Blackjack oak is found to about
2,500 feet (760 m) in the Appalachian Mountains [16,57].

Blackjack oak typically occurs on dry, nutrient-poor soils [12].  Soils
are sandy, gravelly, or clayey, and may contain a fragipan subhorizon
[7,49].  Blackjack oak usually occurs in sand only if it is heavily
impregnated with clay or shallowly overlies clay [35].  In the Piedmont,
blackjack oak occurs on serpentine soils which are typically eroded,
shallow, and stony [7,22].  The stunted condition of blackjack oaks in a
plant community on Buzzard's Roost in Missouri [see General Botanical
Characteristics] is thought to be caused by the poor soil conditions
which include low pH, very low calcium and magnesium, and high aluminum
[44].

Blackjack oak occurs on sites too dry for southern red oak, northern red
oak, or white oak (Quercus alba) [37,44].  It often survives on more
xeric sites than post oak [14].  In Oklahoma, blackjack oak seedlings
occupied the xeric end of the moisture gradient, whereas on more mesic
sites, blackjack oak, post oak, and eastern redcedar (Juniperus
virginiana) seedlings codominated the seedling layer [13].  However,
during a severe drought in Oklahoma, there was higher mortality of
mature blackjack oak than post oak [46].  The dominance of blackjack oak
on less favorable sites may be due to its tolerance of soil infertility
rather than to its drought tolerance [23,46].

Overstory associates not mentioned in Distribution and Occurrence
include pignut hickory (Carya glabra), black hickory (C. texana),
mockernut hickory (C. tomentosa), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea), shingle
oak, winged elm (Ulmus alata), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sourwood
(Oxydendrum arboreum).  Understory associates include blueberry
(Vaccinium spp.), huckleberry (Gaylussacia spp.), mountain-laurel
(Kalmia latifolia), sumac (Rhus spp.), and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.).
Herbaceous plant associates include bluestems (Andropogon spp.), little
bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and sedges (Carex spp.) [7,16,58].

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

    40  Post oak - blackjack oak
    43  Bear oak
    45  Pitch pine
    46  Eastern redcedar
    52  White oak - black oak - northern red oak
    66  Ashe juniper - redberry (Pinchot) juniper
    68  Mesquite
    70  Longleaf pine
    71  Longleaf pine - scrub oak
    72  Southern scrub oak
    75  Shortleaf pine
    76  Shortleaf pine - oak
    78  Virginia pine - oak
    79  Virginia pine
    81  Loblolly pine
    83  Longleaf pine - slash pine
    84  Slash pine
   110  Black oak

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

   FRES12  Longleaf - slash pine
   FRES13  Loblolly - shortleaf pine
   FRES14  Oak - pine
   FRES15  Oak - hickory
   FRES32  Texas savanna
   FRES39  Prairie

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: forest

   K082  Mosaic of K074 and K100
   K083  Cedar glades
   K084  Cross Timbers
   K086  Juniper - oak savanna
   K087  Mesquite - oak savanna
   K089  Black Belt
   K100  Oak - hickory forest
   K110  Northeastern oak - pine forest
   K111  Oak - hickory - pine forest
   K112  Southern mixed forest

More info for the terms: crown fire, top-kill

In general, low-severity fires top-kill small blackjack oaks, and more
severe fires top-kill larger trees and may kill rootstocks as well.  In
the New Jersey Pine Plains, where flame heights are high enough to
ignite and sustain a crown fire, nearly all stems smaller than 9.8 to 13
feet (3-4 m) tall are top-killed [58].

Acorns on the ground surface are usually killed by surface fires [11].

More info for the term: cover

Blackjack oak provides cover and habitat, and acorns are an important
food source for mammals and birds [50].

More info for the terms: codominant, forest, mesic, natural, tree, xeric

Blackjack oak occurs as a dominant tree in savannas and in forests
adjacent to grasslands.  It forms mixed stands with post oak (Quercus
stellata) in the prairie transition area of central Oklahoma and Texas,
where the eastern deciduous forests grade into the drier western
grasslands [23,47].

Blackjack oak shares dominance with bluejack oak and sand post oak (Q.
stellata var. margaretta) on the slightly more mesic midslopes of
sandhills, downslope from the xeric ridges that support turkey oak (Q.
laevis) [11].

The Pine Plains of New Jersey are characterized by a community of
dwarfed blackjack oak, bear oak, and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) [33].

The following published classifications list blackjack oak as a dominant
or codominant species:

Eastern deciduous forest [55]
The natural communities of South Carolina [36]
Forest vegetation of the lower Alabama Piedmont [20]
Forest vegetation of the Big thicket, southeast Texas [32]
The natural forests of Maryland:  an explanation of the vegetation map
    of Maryland [7]

More info for the term: tree

Tree

More info for the terms: competition, fuel, hardwood

Blackjack oak is probably susceptible to most insects and diseases that
attack eastern oak species.  Twolined chestnut borer (Agrilus
bilineatus) and the canker fungus, Hypoxylon atropunctatum, have been
associated with dead blackjack oaks [21].

Hardwood competition in pine plantations and hardwood expansion into
grasslands are often controlled with herbicides.  Tebuthiuron and
triclopyr are effective in killing blackjack oak in grasslands of the
Cross Timbers area of Oklahoma [52].  Velpar L, Garlon 3A, and Krenite
were tested on blackjack oak that ranged between 4 and 9 inches
(10.1-22.9 cm) in d.b.h.  Velpar L was effective at killing blackjack
oak at all injection spacings (3, 5, and 7 inches [7.6, 12.7, and 17.8
cm]) in both May and December.  Garlon 3A was effective only in May at
all spacings, and Krenite was effective only at the 3-inch (7.6 cm)
spacing in May [10].

Blackjack oak expands into prairies where heavy cattle grazing has
reduced the grass fuel load.  Fires, which usually prevent blackjack oak
expansion, are cooler because of the reduced fuel load and not as
effective at killing woody species [23].

Blackjack oak acorns are generally high in fat and low in protein.
Percent nutrient values compiled by Reid and Goodrum [45] from the
literature are given below:

location      protein     fat        crude fiber   calcium    phosphorus

Texas         8.07        26.41      11.55
Louisiana     5.1          5.6       22.8
Mississippi   6.29        10.66      20.94          0.37      0.09
Missouri      5.75        17.73      21.79          0.36      0.09        

     AL  AR  DE  FL  GA  IL  IN  IA  KS  KY
     LA  MD  MS  MO  NJ  NY  NC  OH  OK  PA
     SC  TN  TX  VA  WV

Among 12 southeastern oak species, blackjack oak acorns ranked fourth in
preference to the fox squirrel [38].

Blackjack oak browse is unpalatable [5].

More info on this topic.

Blackjack oak flowers from March to May depending on latitude and
elevation.  Acorns ripen from September to November of the second
growing season after flowering, drop in the fall, and germinate in the
spring [15,41,50].

More info for the terms: root crown, wildfire

If top-killed by fire, blackjack oak sprouts vigorously from the root
crown [59]. 

Because of sprouting, fire tends to increase the number of understory
blackjack oak stems.  Eight annual fires in Tennessee resulted in 470
stems per acre (1160 stems/ha) compared to 20 stems per acre (49
stems/ha) in the control.  Two periodic fires separated by 5 years
resulted in 70 stems per acre (173 stems/ha) [53].

Frequent fire in the Pine Plains of New Jersey has resulted in
multistemmed blackjack oaks.  Two months after a May wildfire, there
were to 3,949 genetically defined blackjack oak and bear oak individuals
per acre (9,750 genets/ha) and 50,422 sprouts per acre (124,500
sprouts/ha).  Oaks averaged 13 sprouts per root crown [8].

In a study in Oklahoma, blackjack oak seedlings were more prevalent in
recently burned areas, suggesting blackjack oak seedlings may increase
after fire.  The authors did not speculate on whether the acorns were
buried on-site before the fire or were disseminated postfire by off-site
sources [13].

More info for the term: tree

   Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/root sucker

More info for the terms: hypogeal, monoecious, root crown

Sexual:  Blackjack oak is monoecious [50].  It bears seeds at a younger
age than many associated arborescent oaks.  In a study in West Virginia,
acorn crops of blackjack oaks that averaged 0.87 inch (2.2 cm) d.b.h.
failed 2 out of 4 years [39].

Dissemination is by gravity and animals.  Germination is hypogeal.
Blackjack oak grows more slowly than many associated trees, including
post oak [51].  Average annual height growth of seedlings in Missouri
during a 6-year period was 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) [26].

Excessive soil moisture and inundation cause severe stress and often
high mortality of blackjack oak seedlings [9].

Vegetative:  If top-killed or cut, blackjack oak sprouts vigorously from
the root crown [59].  Sprouts grow faster than seedlings.  Average
annual height growth of sprouts in Missouri during a 6-year period was
4.4 inches (11.2 cm) [26].  Root crown sprouts as young as 3 to 4 years
old can produce mature acorns [30].

More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

   14  Great Plains

More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: association, climax, competition, xeric

Facultative Seral Species

Blackjack oak is shade intolerant [15].  Because of slow growth, it is
probably overtopped by other species, including most oaks.  It probably
persists and becomes dominant on sites too poor for faster growing
species.

Blackjack oak is common in the understory of pine (Pinus spp.)-hardwood
forests.  In the absence of fire, blackjack oak may become dominant
depending on site conditions and competition from associated species
[17].  In upland longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas and longleaf
pine sandhills in the west Gulf Coastal Plain, blackjack oak, along with
post oak, bluejack oak, and black hickory, become dominant and
eventually replace longleaf pine [6].

Blackjack oak, along with post oak, will expand into adjacent prairies
in the absence of fire [17].  The post oak-blackjack oak association may
be an edaphic climax on dry sites [16].  Because of its longevity,
blackjack oak may be found as a dominant in climax oak-hickory forests
[46].

In a study in central Illinois, dry sandy sites were dominated by
blackjack oak and black oak.  The two species also dominated the
seedling and sapling layers.  However, an influx of shade tolerant,
mesophytic species such as American elm (Ulmus americana) and hackberry
(Celtis occidentalis) in the seedling strata suggest that at least a
partial takeover is likely in the continued absence of fire.  The xeric
nature of the site will probably prevent complete takeover [1].

Quercus neoashei Bush

The currently accepted scientific name of blackjack oak is Quercus
marilandica Muenchh. [28]. Blackjack oak has been placed within the
subgenus Erythrobalanus, or red (black) oak group [49]. There are no
recognized subspecies, varieties, or forms.

Blackjack oak hybridizes with the following species [28]:

x Q. falcata (southern red oak)
x Q. geogiana (Georgia oak): Q. X smallii Trel.
x Q. ilicifolia (bear oak): Q. X brittonii W. T. Davis
x Q. imbricaria (shingle oak): Q. X tridentata (A. DC.) Engelm.
x Q. incana (bluejack oak): Q. X cravenensis Little
x Q. nigra (water oak): Q. X sterilis Trel.
x Q. phellos (willow oak): Q. X rudkinii Britton
x Q. rubra (northern red oak)
x Q. shumardii (Shumard oak): Q. X hastingsii Sarg.
x Q. velutina (black oak): Q. X bushii Sarg.
x Q. laurifolia (laurel oak): Q. X diversiloba Tharp ex A. Camus

More info for the term: fuel

Blackjack oak is not a preferred timber species [48].  The wood is hard,
heavy, and strong with a wide, light sapwood.  It is used mainly for
fence posts, railroad ties, and fuel [50].