Quercus acutissima

Species of oak tree

Quercus acutissima, the sawtooth oak, is an Asian species of oak native to China, Tibet, Korea, Japan, Indochina (Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia) and the Himalayas (Nepal, Bhutan, northeastern India). It is widely planted in many lands and has become naturalized in parts of North America. In order to reduce the potential harms of the sawtooth oak, researchers and scientists are advising to remove tree saplings and remove the plant species altogether from reclamation species lists. Due to their preference for well drained acid soils, Quercus acutissima is able to thrive and survive in various harsh locations. Similarly to other species, the sawtooth oak is able to outcompete with other native species, which has the possibility to be detrimental to ecosystems. Due to its fast growing nature, these saplings are being planted with little thought about the potential damage it may have to native species.

Sawtooth oak is widely planted in eastern North America and is naturalized in scattered locations; it is also occasionally planted in Europe but has not naturalized there. Most planting in North America was carried out for wildlife food provision, as the species tends to bear heavier crops of acorns than other native American oak species; however, the bitterness of the acorns makes it less suitable for this purpose, and sawtooth oak is becoming a problematic invasive species in some areas and states, such as Louisiana. Sawtooth oak trees also grow at a faster rate which helps it compete against native trees. The wood has many of the characteristics of other oaks, but is very prone to crack and split and hence is relegated to such uses as fencing. Charcoal made using this wood is used especially for the braziers for heating water for the Japanese tea ceremony.