Life History & Disturbance Response of Quercus laurifolia laurel oak

Family: Fagaceae
Guild: persistent, large-seeded, advance growth dependent
Functional Lifeform: medium-size semi-evergreen tree
Ecological Role: common on floodplains, sandy river margins and in moist woodlands; grows in mixtures with other wet-mesic hardwoods; establishes in the understory and rapidly moves into the canopy; heavy acorn crops are important for wildlife
Lifespan, yrs (typical/max): Information Not Found
Shade Tolerance: tolerant
Height, m: 18-21
Canopy Tree: yes
Pollination Agent: wind
Seeding, yrs (begins/optimal/declines): 15/20/Information Not Found
Mast Frequency, yrs: 1
New Cohorts Source: seeds or sprouts
Flowering Dates: early spring
Flowers/Cones Damaged by Frost: Information Not Found
Seedfall Begins: early fall
Seed Banking: up to 1 yr
Cold Stratification Required: no, exhibits mild dormancy
Seed Type/Dispersal Distance/Agent: nut (acorn)/ to 50 m/ gravity, birds, other animals, water
Season of Germination: spring
Seedling Rooting System: taproot
Sprouting: common on small stems
Establishment Seedbed Preferences
Substrate: variable
Light: overstory shade
Moisture: moist required
Temperature: neutral
Disturbance response:
Fire: Laurel oaks benefit from fire suppression. Many laurel oak stands such as those on hydric hammocks owe their existence to protection from fire. Hardwood hammocks are extremely susceptible to fire damage, especially during the dry season. A dry-season surface fire may burn the organic soil down to the bedrock. If fire is suppressed, laurel oak expands from hydric hammocks into adjacent communities. A thin-barked species, laurel oaks are highly susceptible to damage and topkill from even low-intensity surface fires. Trees experiencing periodic fire commonly develop decay where fire wounded. Prescribed fire has been used in pine plantations to prevent hardwood establishment in. Laurel oak up to about 8 cm d.b.h. can be controlled with prescribed dormant-season fires.
Weather: Intolerant of prolonged flooding.
Exotics: Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a defoliator of eastern hardwood forests, introduced to Massachusetts from France in 1885. It has spread throughout New England into Virginia and Michigan. Defoliation causes growth loss, decline, and mortality. It feeds on many tree species, but Quercus and Populus are the most susceptible taxa, and trees growing on xeric sites are the most vulnerable. Various efforts have been made to control it, with mixed results. A fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga introduced from Japan causes considerable mortality to gypsy moth populations. E. maimaiga levels are promoted by damp weather.