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[[File:Gambel oak leaves.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Gambel oak leaves.]]
[[File:Gambel oak leaves.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Gambel oak leaves.]]
[[File:Gambel oak bark.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Bark on a mature Gambel oak.]]
[[File:Gambel oak bark.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Bark on a mature Gambel oak.]]
''Quercus gambelii'' trees differ in size from one location to another. The average mature height is from {{convert|3|-|9|m|abbr=off|ft|0}}, but occasionally reaches heights of {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} in some locations. Dwarf stands of plants under {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=4}} tall are common in marginal areas where heavy browsing occurs.<ref name=FNA/> The largest trees are found in the southern range of the species along streams. These trees reach up to 100 feet tall. The champion tree is in Arizona at {{Convert|114|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} tall. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/gambel-oak-quercus-gambelii-2/|title=Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii)|date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
''Quercus gambelii'' trees differ in size from one location to another. The average mature height is from {{convert|3|-|9|m|abbr=off|ft|0}}, but occasionally reaches heights of {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} in some locations. Dwarf stands of plants under {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=4}} tall are common in marginal areas where heavy browsing occurs.<ref name=FNA/> The largest trees are found along streams in the southern part of its range, and can reach up to 100 feet tall. The champion tree is in Arizona at {{Convert|114|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} tall. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/gambel-oak-quercus-gambelii-2/|title=Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii)|date=15 September 2016}}</ref>


Although the tree's wood is hard and dense, its branches are irregular and crooked, making them flexible enough to bend without breaking when covered with heavy snow. The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is rough and brownish-gray.
Although the wood is hard and dense, its branches are irregular and crooked, making them flexible enough to bend without breaking when covered with heavy snow. The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is rough and brownish-gray.


The [[leaves]] are generally {{convert|7|-|12|cm|frac=2|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|4|-|6|cm|frac=2|abbr=on}} broad, deeply lobed on each side of the central vein; the upper surface is glossy dark green, the undersurface is paler and velvety. They frequently turn orange and yellow during autumn, creating mountainsides of vivid colors. The [[flower]]s are inconspicuous unisexual [[catkins]] that occur in the spring.<ref name=FNA/>
The [[leaves]] are generally {{convert|7|-|12|cm|frac=2|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|4|-|6|cm|frac=2|abbr=on}} broad, deeply lobed on each side of the central vein; the upper surface is glossy dark green, the undersurface is paler and velvety. Trees are [[deciduous]] and the leaves frequently turn orange and yellow during autumn, creating mountainsides of vivid colors. The [[flower]]s are inconspicuous unisexual [[catkins]] that occur in the spring.<ref name=FNA/>


The [[acorn]]s are {{convert|10|-|20|mm|frac=8}} long, and about one-third to one-half enclosed by a cap or cup ([[Calybium and cupule|cupule]]); they mature in September, turning from green to golden brown. The plant reproduces from acorns, but also spreads most rapidly from root sprouts that grow from vast underground structures called [[lignotuber]]s. These reproductive characteristics often result in dense groves or thickets of the trees that often cover entire mountainsides.<ref name=FNA/>
The [[acorn]]s are {{convert|10|-|20|mm|frac=8}} long and about one-third to one-half enclosed by a cap or cup ([[Calybium and cupule|cupule]]); they mature in September, turning from green to golden brown. The plant reproduces from acorns, but also spreads from root sprouts that grow from vast underground structures called [[lignotuber]]s. These reproductive characteristics often result in dense groves or thickets of trees that can cover entire mountainsides.<ref name=FNA/>


== Distribution and habitat ==
== Distribution and habitat ==
The natural range of ''Quercus gambelii'' is centered in the western United States and northwestern Mexico, in the states of [[Arizona]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], [[Sonora]], and [[Utah]]. It also extends into [[Nevada]], [[Wyoming]], [[Idaho]], [[Nebraska]], the [[Oklahoma Panhandle]], [[Coahuila]], and into the [[Trans-Pecos]] region of western [[Texas]].<ref name="FNA" /><ref name="FNA map" /><ref>{{PLANTS|symbol=QUGA|taxon=Quercus gambelii}}</ref><ref>{{BONAP|genus=Quercus|species=gambelii|date=2014}}</ref><ref>[http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3236&taxauthid=1 SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter]</ref>
The natural range of ''Quercus gambelii'' is centered in the western United States and northwestern Mexico in the states of [[Arizona]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], [[Sonora]], and [[Utah]]. It also extends into [[Nevada]], [[Wyoming]], [[Idaho]], [[Nebraska]], the [[Oklahoma Panhandle]], [[Coahuila]], and into the [[Trans-Pecos]] region of western [[Texas]].<ref name="FNA" /><ref name="FNA map" /><ref>{{PLANTS|symbol=QUGA|taxon=Quercus gambelii}}</ref><ref>{{BONAP|genus=Quercus|species=gambelii|date=2014}}</ref><ref>[http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3236&taxauthid=1 SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter]</ref>


The tree typically grows at altitudes of {{convert|1000|-|3000|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, where precipitation averages between {{convert|30|-|60|cm|abbr=on}} per year.
The tree typically grows at altitudes of {{convert|1000|-|3000|m|abbr=on}} above sea level where precipitation averages between {{convert|30|-|60|cm|abbr=on}} per year.


The species flourishes in full sun on hillsides with thin, rocky, alkaline soil where competition from other plant species is limited. It also does well in richer soils, but in those areas it is forced to compete for growing room. It is well-adapted to locations where wet springs and hot, dry summers create conditions conducive to wildfires.
The species flourishes in full sun on hillsides with thin, rocky, alkaline soil where competition from other plant species is limited. It also does well in richer soils, but in those areas it is forced to compete for growing room. It is well-adapted to locations where wet springs and hot, dry summers create conditions conducive to wildfires.
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[[Fire ecology|After a fire]], Gambel oak quickly re-establishes from root sprouts. The plant is [[drought tolerant]].
[[Fire ecology|After a fire]], Gambel oak quickly re-establishes from root sprouts. The plant is [[drought tolerant]].


Associated plant species can include: [[chokecherry]], [[arrowleaf balsamroot]], [[bigtooth maple]], [[mountain mahogany]], [[ponderosa pine]], and [[serviceberry]]. Associated birds and mammals include [[Woodhouse's scrub jay]], [[black-billed magpie]], [[grouse]], [[deer]], [[chipmunks]] and [[squirrels]].
Associated plant species include: [[chokecherry]], [[arrowleaf balsamroot]], [[bigtooth maple]], [[mountain mahogany]], [[ponderosa pine]], and [[serviceberry]]. Associated birds and mammals include [[Woodhouse's scrub jay]], [[black-billed magpie]], [[grouse]], [[deer]], [[chipmunks]] and [[squirrels]].


Where abundant, Gambel oak is an important food source for browsing animals such as [[deer]] and [[livestock]].<ref name="Audubon" /> The sweetish acorns are frequently gathered by squirrels and stored for winter food. Acorns are also eaten by [[wild turkeys]], [[American black bear|black bears]], and domestic animals such as hogs.<ref name="Audubon" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Whitney |first=Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/431 |title=Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides) |date=1985 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-73127-1 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/431 431]}}</ref> Some insects depend on the Gambel oak: for example, the [[Colorado hairstreak butterfly]] uses it as a food source for caterpillars.
Where abundant, Gambel oak is an important food source for browsing animals such as [[deer]] and [[livestock]].<ref name="Audubon" /> The sweetish acorns are frequently gathered by squirrels and stored for winter food. Acorns are also eaten by [[wild turkeys]], [[American black bear|black bears]], and domestic animals such as hogs.<ref name="Audubon" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Whitney |first=Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/431 |title=Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides) |date=1985 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-73127-1 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/431 431]}}</ref> Some insects depend on the Gambel oak: for example, the [[Colorado hairstreak butterfly]] uses it as a food source for caterpillars.


==Uses==
==Uses==
Historically, acorns from Gambel oak provided a reliable source of food for Native Americans.<ref>[http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Quercus+gambelii BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database: ''Quercus gambelii'']</ref> If bitter, tannins may need to be [[Parboiling|leached]]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Elias|first1=Thomas S.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/244766414|title=Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods|last2=Dykeman|first2=Peter A.|publisher=[[Sterling Publishing|Sterling]]|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4027-6715-9|location=New York|pages=228, 231|oclc=244766414|orig-year=1982}}</ref> from the acorns.
Historically, acorns from Gambel oak provided a reliable source of food for Native Americans.<ref>[http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Quercus+gambelii BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database: ''Quercus gambelii'']</ref> If bitter, tannins can be [[Parboiling|leached]]<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Elias|first1=Thomas S.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/244766414|title=Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods|last2=Dykeman|first2=Peter A.|publisher=[[Sterling Publishing|Sterling]]|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4027-6715-9|location=New York|pages=228, 231|oclc=244766414|orig-year=1982}}</ref> from the acorns.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Quercus|gambelii]]
[[Category:Quercus|gambelii]]
[[Category:Trees of the Western United States]]
[[Category:Trees of Northern America]]
⚫
[[Category:Trees of Northwestern Mexico]]
[[Category:Flora of the Rocky Mountains]]
[[Category:Flora of the Rocky Mountains]]
[[Category:Flora of Arizona]]
[[Category:Flora of Arizona]]
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[[Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine]]
[[Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine]]
[[Category:Flora of the Sierra Madre Occidental]]
[[Category:Flora of the Sierra Madre Occidental]]
⚫
[[Category:Oaks of Mexico]]

Revision as of 13:56, 23 December 2023

Gambel oak
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Quercus
Section: Quercus sect. Quercus
Species:
Q. gambelii
Binomial name
Quercus gambelii
Natural range of Quercus gambelii
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Quercus gambeli Nutt.
  • Quercus albifolia C.H.Mull.
  • Quercus confusa Wooton & Standl.
  • Quercus eastwoodiae Rydb.
  • Quercus gunnisonii Rydb.
  • Quercus leptophylla Rydb.
  • Quercus marshii C.H.Mull.
  • Quercus media Wooton & Standl.
  • Quercus nitescens Rydb.
  • Quercus novomexicana (A.DC.) Rydb.
  • Quercus obtusifolia (A. DC.) Rydb.
  • Quercus submollis Rydb.
  • Quercus subobtusifolia A.Camus
  • Quercus utahensis (A.DC.) Rydb.
  • Quercus vreelandii Rydb.

Quercus gambelii, with the common name Gambel oak, is a deciduous small tree or large shrub that is widespread in the foothills and lower mountains of western North America. It is also regionally called scrub oak, oak brush, and white oak.[3][4]

The common and scientific names, Gambel oak and Quercus gambelii, were named after the American naturalist William Gambel (1821–1849).[5]

Description

Gambel oak leaves.
Bark on a mature Gambel oak.

Quercus gambelii trees differ in size from one location to another. The average mature height is from 3–9 metres (10–30 feet), but occasionally reaches heights of 18 m (59 ft) in some locations. Dwarf stands of plants under 1 m (3+1⁄4 ft) tall are common in marginal areas where heavy browsing occurs.[3] The largest trees are found along streams in the southern part of its range, and can reach up to 100 feet tall. The champion tree is in Arizona at 35 m (114 ft) tall. [6]

Although the wood is hard and dense, its branches are irregular and crooked, making them flexible enough to bend without breaking when covered with heavy snow. The bark is rough and brownish-gray.

The leaves are generally 7–12 centimetres (3–4+1⁄2 inches) long and 4–6 cm (1+1⁄2-2+1⁄2 in) broad, deeply lobed on each side of the central vein; the upper surface is glossy dark green, the undersurface is paler and velvety. Trees are deciduous and the leaves frequently turn orange and yellow during autumn, creating mountainsides of vivid colors. The flowers are inconspicuous unisexual catkins that occur in the spring.[3]

The acorns are 10–20 millimetres (3⁄8-3⁄4 in) long and about one-third to one-half enclosed by a cap or cup (cupule); they mature in September, turning from green to golden brown. The plant reproduces from acorns, but also spreads from root sprouts that grow from vast underground structures called lignotubers. These reproductive characteristics often result in dense groves or thickets of trees that can cover entire mountainsides.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The natural range of Quercus gambelii is centered in the western United States and northwestern Mexico in the states of Arizona, Chihuahua, Colorado, New Mexico, Sonora, and Utah. It also extends into Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska, the Oklahoma Panhandle, Coahuila, and into the Trans-Pecos region of western Texas.[3][4][7][8][9]

The tree typically grows at altitudes of 1,000–3,000 m (3,300–9,800 ft) above sea level where precipitation averages between 30–60 cm (12–24 in) per year.

The species flourishes in full sun on hillsides with thin, rocky, alkaline soil where competition from other plant species is limited. It also does well in richer soils, but in those areas it is forced to compete for growing room. It is well-adapted to locations where wet springs and hot, dry summers create conditions conducive to wildfires.

Ecology

After a fire, Gambel oak quickly re-establishes from root sprouts. The plant is drought tolerant.

Associated plant species include: chokecherry, arrowleaf balsamroot, bigtooth maple, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, and serviceberry. Associated birds and mammals include Woodhouse's scrub jay, black-billed magpie, grouse, deer, chipmunks and squirrels.

Where abundant, Gambel oak is an important food source for browsing animals such as deer and livestock.[5] The sweetish acorns are frequently gathered by squirrels and stored for winter food. Acorns are also eaten by wild turkeys, black bears, and domestic animals such as hogs.[5][10] Some insects depend on the Gambel oak: for example, the Colorado hairstreak butterfly uses it as a food source for caterpillars.

Uses

Historically, acorns from Gambel oak provided a reliable source of food for Native Americans.[11] If bitter, tannins can be leached[12] from the acorns.

References

  1. ^ Beckman, E. (2016). "Quercus gambelii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T194132A2302147. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T194132A2302147.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Quercus gambelii". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. ^ a b c d e Nixon, Kevin C. (1997). "Quercus gambelii". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. ^ a b Flora of North America: Distribution range map for Quercus gambelii
  5. ^ a b c Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 399. ISBN 0394507614.
  6. ^ "Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii)". 15 September 2016.
  7. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Quercus gambelii". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team.
  8. ^ "Quercus gambelii". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
  9. ^ SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter
  10. ^ Whitney, Stephen (1985). Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. p. 431. ISBN 0-394-73127-1.
  11. ^ BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database: Quercus gambelii
  12. ^ Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. pp. 228, 231. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414.
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