See Map: T, 17, 31 
SHUMARD OAK 
Quercus shumardii 
Of 600 species of oaks distributed 
primarily around the Northern Hemi- 
sphere, over 100 species are native to 
Mexico, about 80 to the U.S., and about 
20 to Missouri, where they dominate 
forests, lawns, and the Missouri Botani- 
cal Garden. 
Oaks have always been important 
for lumber, even in ancient times. One 
Roman name for oak, robur, means 
“strength” or “hardness”, which are 
characteristics of oak wood, making it 
useful for construction, furniture, floors, 
and other purposes. An odd source of 
oak wood is British moors, from which “bog oak” is hauled for fine 
carvings. These logs have been in the wet soil since Roman times. It is 
suspected that Roman legions cut the trees and dumped them in the 
moors for exercise and to deprive the local inhabitants of wood. Some oak 
species have particularly waterproof wood and thus have been useful for 
ancient aqueducts and more modern barrels, boats, and similar purposes. 
English oak (Quercus robur) was once the mainstay of the British navy. 
And oak wood still serves in vehicles of exploration, as heat shields in 
Chinese space reentry vehicles. 
Shumard oak is native to the St. Louis area on high, dry sites. Else- 
