# Running Oak (*Quercus pumila*) The Running Oak is a small tree that grows low to the ground. It has thick leaves and produces acorns that many animals love to eat. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Running Oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_pumila_Running_Oak_%28homeredwardprice%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: homeredwardprice, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_pumila_Running_Oak_%28homeredwardprice%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Running Oak is a low-growing, shrubby plant with a spreading form, rarely reaching tree size. It has small, somewhat leathery, dark green leaves that are often semi-evergreen. Its inconspicuous flowers are yellowish-green catkins, leading to small, dark brown acorns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Even after a big fire, this tough plant quickly sprouts back from its roots! - It often grows in sandy, dry places where many other plants can't survive! - Its 'running' name comes from underground stems that help it spread far! - Native Americans once used its small acorns as a food source after preparation! ## Special abilities - **Underground Networker:** Running Oak has an extensive rhizome system that helps it spread widely and form large colonies. - **Fire Resurrector:** Running Oak can quickly sprout back from its deep root system after fires, a common event in its habitat. - **Sandy Soil Specialist:** Running Oak has adaptations to thrive in dry, nutrient-poor sandy soils where many other plants struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — consumes its acorns - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses foliage and acorns - **Eats:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — forages for its fallen acorns - **Eats:** Oak Leaf Tier Moth (*Acrobasis demotella*) — larvae feed on its leaves ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around trees and watch out for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Running Oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Running Oak? 50-200 cm ### How wide does Running Oak spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Running Oak? 0.1-0.3 cm ### When does Running Oak bloom? Spring ### Is Running Oak edible? Yes ### Is Running Oak toxic? None ### What is Running Oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Running Oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/running-oak)