Quercus emoryi

Quercus emoryi

by Allen Hanson, Native Plants of Arizona 2004

Common names: Emory Oak, Blackjack Oak

Family: Fagaceae (1)

Synonymy:

Etymology: Quercus translates into “oak” (3)

Identification

Growth form: Drought deciduous tree, or occasionally shrubby, slowly growing to 65 feet tall (20 m) or more; trunk up to 2.5 feet in diameter (75 cm); bark 1 to 2 inches in diameter (2.5-5 cm). (4)

Roots:

Stem: Moderate, fuzzy, yellow brown; buds are long, pointed and fuzzy particularly near the tips (5)

Leaves: Evergreen, alternate, simple, narrowly ovate to broadly lance shaped, 1 to 3 inches long, entire or toothed margin (near the tip), leathery and stiff, sharp pointed, parallel veins that are sunken above and raised beneath, heart shaped base, shiny yellow-green to green and smooth above, paler but smooth below (sometimes hairy). (5)

Inflorescence/flowers: Monoecious, males in long drooping catkins, yellow green; females very small spikes in leaf axils, appearing with the leaves. (5)

Fruit: acorns of the Emory Oak are 1 or 2, 0.4 to 0.8 inches long (1-2 cm) (5)

Similar species: Similar to Quercus grisea in leaf morphology. Also, Quercus emoryi commonly hybridizes with other similar oak species making identification of this species somewhat difficult in areas where multiple oak species can be found.

Ecology

Life history: perennial dicot (2)

Native/introduced: Native to the southwestern United States (2)

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology:

Distribution: South-western N. America - W. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and northern Mexico. Canyons, dry foothills and mountain slopes. The plant prefers medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. (6)

Uses

Valuable food commodity (acorns) for wildlife such as deer, elk, and birds. Acorns can be dried and ground into a powder to thicken stews and also as flour for making breads. Roasted seeds can be used as a substitute for coffee beans. (6)

References

1. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (http://www.itis.usda.gov).

2. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA.

3. Borrer, D. J. 1960. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Word Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company. Mountain View, California.

4. Desert Tropicals. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fagaceae/Quercus_emoryi.html

5. VT Dendrology. Virginia Tech University. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/qemoryi.htm

6. Plant For A Future http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Quercus+emoryi&CAN=LATIND

*Quercus emoryi* by Allen Hanson, Native Plants of Arizona 2004 Common names: Emory Oak, Blackjack Oak Family: Fagaceae (1) Synonymy: Etymology: Quercus translates into “oak” (3) Identification Growth form: Drought deciduous tree, or occasionally shrubby, slowly growing to 65 feet tall (20 m) or more; trunk up to 2.5 feet in diameter (75 cm); bark 1 to 2 inches in diameter (2.5-5 cm). (4) Roots: Stem: Moderate, fuzzy, yellow brown; buds are long, pointed and fuzzy particularly near the tips (5) Leaves: Evergreen, alternate, simple, narrowly ovate to broadly lance shaped, 1 to 3 inches long, entire or toothed margin (near the tip), leathery and stiff, sharp pointed, parallel veins that are sunken above and raised beneath, heart shaped base, shiny yellow-green to green and smooth above, paler but smooth below (sometimes hairy). (5) Inflorescence/flowers: Monoecious, males in long drooping catkins, yellow green; females very small spikes in leaf axils, appearing with the leaves. (5) Fruit: acorns of the Emory Oak are 1 or 2, 0.4 to 0.8 inches long (1-2 cm) (5) Similar species: Similar to Quercus grisea in leaf morphology. Also, Quercus emoryi commonly hybridizes with other similar oak species making identification of this species somewhat difficult in areas where multiple oak species can be found. Ecology Life history: perennial dicot (2) Native/introduced: Native to the southwestern United States (2) Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Distribution: South-western N. America - W. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and northern Mexico. Canyons, dry foothills and mountain slopes. The plant prefers medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. (6) Uses Valuable food commodity (acorns) for wildlife such as deer, elk, and birds. Acorns can be dried and ground into a powder to thicken stews and also as flour for making breads. Roasted seeds can be used as a substitute for coffee beans. (6) References 1. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (http://www.itis.usda.gov). 2. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA. 3. Borrer, D. J. 1960. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Word Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company. Mountain View, California. 4. Desert Tropicals. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fagaceae/Quercus_emoryi.html 5. VT Dendrology. Virginia Tech University. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/qemoryi.htm 6. Plant For A Future http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Quercus+emoryi&CAN=LATIND