Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

Quercus phellos
Willow Oak
[Red oak group]

Locations in Hudson River Park:
Morton Street to Christopher Street (N1)
Christopher Street to Charles Street (N2)
West 11th Street to West 12th Street(N4)
West 12th Street to Horatio Street (N5)
sections

Kingdom  Plantae – Plants
    Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
        Superdivision  Spermatophyta – Seed plants
            Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
                Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
                    Subclass  Hamamelididae
                        Order  Fagales
                            Family  Fagaceae – Beech family
                                Genus  Quercus L. – oak
                                    Species  Quercus phellos L. –
                                                         willow oak

Peach Oak

quercus (L) = "oak"
phellos (L) = "cork"

Native to eastern US

Native habitat: Alluvial soils, moist forests, stream banks and bottomlands.

Salt spray tolerance high

The principal enemy of the willow oak is fire. Seedlings and saplings may succumb to a light burn. Hot fires can kill large trees. (Contrast with Bur Oak.)

Toxic Parts:
Acorns (seeds of nuts) and young leaves
Toxin Delivery Mode:
Ingestion
Symptoms:
Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination

Edibility:
EDIBLE PARTS:
Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
HARVESTING:
Only collect nuts from areas you know