Quercus frutex
Quercus frutex
Safety & Hazards
All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content. Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ].
Botanical Description
Quercus frutex is an evergreen shrub that can grow from 40 - 250cm tall, sometimes becoming a small tree up to 7 metres tall[ 1225 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 89 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis. Year 2002 ISBN 0026-6493 Description A botanical journal, it includes a treatment of the oaks of Mexico. It can be downloaded from the Internet ]. It spreads by means of a rhizomatous rootstock to form a thicket. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials, and possibly also as a food and a medicine.