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Quercus durifolia

Accession Count: 1
Common Name: roble prieto
Family Name: Fagaceae
Botanical Name: Quercus durifolia
Sub Species:
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Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics: Quercus durifolia is a deciduous or lately-evergreen oak with a spreading form reaching up to 10m, often growing taller in cultivation (1, 2). Trees possess dark-gray to black bark, smooth when young, and becoming rough, fissured, or cracked with age (2, 3, 4). Branchlets are grey-brown, slender and hairless, although young specimens are tomentose (3, 4). Borne upon branchlets are the semi-deciduous leaves, lanceolate to ovate, dark-green in color and hairless. The underside of leaves will be densely tomentose and glaucous, although plants will become more glabrous with maturity (1, 2, 4). In May, both male and female flowers will bloom, the male catkins possessing 6 stamens and hairless anthers, and the female flowers with reduced or absent stalks (3). Fruiting occurs from August to October in the first year, or in September for Mexican specimens (1, 4). Ovoid acorns with light-gray hairs will be borne, either singly or in pairs, and on short stalks (1, 2).
Compound: Que dur
Geographic Origin: Mexican Mountains
Ecozone Origin: Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History: Q. durifolia, or Roble Prieto, was named by the German botanist Karl Otto von Seemen, who included it within his Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 29(1), published on May 22nd, 1900 (5).
The species is endemic to northwestern Mexico, and is found within the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Durango (2, 6). The native habitat includes oak and pine-oak forests with an elevation of 1,700 to 2,300 m, with previous collections specifying mountainous or riparian environments possessing stony, volcanic, or coarse soils (7, 8, 9).  However, collection of Q. durifolia is dangerous and often impossible, due to rising criminal activity within the species’ main distribution (10).
Cultivation Notes: Roble Prieto is not well known in cultivation, and as such not very much information is available about its growth requirements. However, the species is reported to be very hardy in cultivation, growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-8, which indicates a tolerance of temperatures down to 0-10°F (3, 4). Indeed, when established, trees are capable of handling most conditions, including ashy, stony, volcanic, gravelly, and coarse soils (7, 8, 9).
Because Q. durifolia is a desert tree, it is assumed that full-sun and drought conditions are tolerated or even necessary. However, specimens should be carefully monitored to determine the appropriate amount of sun exposure and moisture needed for healthy growth.
Propagation is only known to be possible through planting seeds, which are contained in acorn nuts that mature from August to October within the first year, or in September for Mexican specimens (1, 4).
Ethnobotany: Quercus durifolia has been valued by the Indigenous Tarahumara, Tepehuán, Purépecha, and Mixteco people of Mexico for medicinal and nutritional purposes, as well as in foraging (11). Additionally, the bark of specific specimens has been used in tanning, and a 2020 product certificate listed several uses for Q. durifolia, including in outdoor furniture creation, as fences, stakes, and pales; and in the lumber industry as solid, chipped, or rough wood (12, 13).
More generally, all Quercus species are valued in Mexico for the leaves, which have been traditionally used as food (14). Medicinally, both the leaves and bark of Roble Prieto were found to be a possible source of polyphenol antioxidants, which are capable of improving digestive issues, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, weight management, and neurodegenerative diseases (15, 16, 17).
Height: 20 - 50 feet
Width: 0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate: Slow Growing
Grow Season: Fall
Flower Season: Spring
Color: Yellow
Function: Shade
Spread: Spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Hardy
Water Use: Low water Use
Citations:
  1. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodland. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  2. The Oaks of Chevithorne Barton. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  3. Oaks of the World. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  4. Trees and Shrubs Online. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  5. Tropicos. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  6. International Oak Society. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  7. CalPhotos, Berkeley. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  8. Sernec Portal, SEINnet. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  9. Midwestbaria Portal, University of Arizona Herbarium. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  10. Oaktopia. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  11. Science Direct. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  12. Vplants, University of Colorado Museum. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  13. Forests For All Forever Certificate. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  14. Europe PMC. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  15. Asian Digital Library. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  16. AK Journals. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
  17. Healthline. Retrieved December 11th, 2020.
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Quercus durifolia