Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
scrub oak
Family Name:
Fagaceae
Botanical Name:
Quercus turbinella
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Compound:
Que tur
Geographic Origin:
Desert Southwest
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Scrub oak is a native plant to the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah as well as Northwestern Mexico (7). The preferred habitat of the Scrub Oak is hillsides and dry washes above 4500 ft (2). Its distribution is limited to Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern United States (6). The native climate for scrub oak is dry desert, chaparral, and pinyon juniper woodlands (4). It is plentiful in the chaparral of central Arizona in particular (7). This species' distribution is inhibited by spring freezes and high summer moisture (7).
Cultivation Notes:
Scrub oak can survive in soil with little moisture and is both cold and heat tolerant. This species grows in scattered patches in low areas land canyons (7). It grows well on hillsides and mesas and is able to tolerate many soil types. The soils tend to be coarse-textured, such as granular sands (7). Scrub oak grows best in sandy and clay rich soils, and can tolerate slightly acidic soils both deep and shallow. It is an adaptable shrub, it has the ability to thrive in different temperature ranges, but is normally found in dry warm areas often on southern exposures. Scrub oak reproduces sexually via male and female flowers. The fruit, known as an acorn, and flowering is dependent on the moisture of the previous winter (7). Because of this inhibition, the Scrub oak often reproduces vegetatively, developing new plants from its stems and root crown (6).
Ethnobotany:
Scrub oak is a very important plant species for the animals in its habitat, including until recently humans. Acorns are a food source for mammals, birds, and insects (2). The Native Americans of the Southwest have historically eaten scrub oak acorns as a snack food and good source of fats and protein (7). Acorns are eaten most often once other more appealing sources of food are scarce (7). Though acorns are one of the few foods that can survive cold temperatures and drought, making the nut a valuable emergency food source. For deer and livestock its abundant and evergreen leaves provide for year round browsing (7). Not only does the scrub oak provide food for many animal species, but it also provides them with cover from the harsh environment. In Arizona, mountain lions hide their kills in the scrub oak bushes to keep them safe from scavengers (7).
Height:
6 - 10 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Green
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
- Flora
of North America
."Flora of North America." Taxon
Page.
N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
Naturesongs
.Gausig, Doug Von. "Shrub Live Oak, Quercus Turbinella." Shrub
Live Oak, Quercus Turbinella.
Naturesongs, 1999. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
tropicos
.Greene, Edward L. "Quercus Turbinella Greene." Tropicos
| Name - Quercus Turbinella Greene.
Illustrations of West American Oaks, 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Dec.
2013.
Native
Plant Database
."Native Plant Database." Quercus
Turbinella (Sonoran Scrub Oak).
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
USDA
Plant Database
."Plants Profile for Quercus Turbinella (Sonoran Scrub
Oak)." Plants
Profile for Quercus Turbinella (Sonoran Scrub Oak).
N.p., 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Wikipedia
."Quercus Turbinella." Wikipedia.
Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
US
FS Database."Species:
Quercus Turbinella." Species:
Quercus Turbinella.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Calflora
"Taxon Report 7008." My
Calflora.
Calflora, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
