ABC Wednesday ~ Quercus (KWER-kus)
‘Q’ was a tough one until I remembered that the Oaks are in the genus Quercus. It still wasn’t easy getting the picture because most Oaks start branching high off the ground. While visiting the New Jersey State Botanical Garden I knew that I would find a nice Oak to photograph. I don’t really know too much about Oaks and really only have experience planting Pin Oaks (Quercus palustris) and have done the odd pruning jobs on Red and White Oaks. I didn't know that Oaks are actually in the Beech family (Fagaceae). I now that I think about it I did plant a pretty big Upright English Oak (Quercus robur 'Fastigiata') a little while back and that has done well.
There 500 plus species of Oaks. The range from elevated areas in the tropics to subtropical and temperate areas. They are native from North to South America and Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. Generally there are two types (botanists break it down way more than this) the white oak group and the red oak group. The main differences are the white oaks have rounded lobed leaves, produce acorns that mature in one season that are not bitter and the reds have pointed leaf lobes and take two years to produce their bitter tasting acorns. There can be a little bit more than that to it but you can break down most of the types with those items. Oaks, for the most part, very important trees with the wood being used for fuel, construction and their acorns are one of the top wildlife food sources. They also add a lot of beauty to the landscape.
I could ramble on here about Oak Trees for awhile but after sorting out my computer problems Karen’s Dell went on the fritz. Since I don’t know anything about Windows computers I couldn’t help. I do, however, have to help with the paperwork that she was going to do on her computer. These invoices need to go, if you know what I mean.
This tree is in the red group and had some of the nicest fall color I have seen amongst the Oaks, too bad it wasn’t labeled. Normally the fall color is a mix of yellow, brown and rusty colors which up until a few years ago I never really appreciated. I have a white oak in the backyard that is huge and it turns from green to brown in the fall. I am including a picture of this Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria) I saw at Skylands. It is a species that I am not really familiar with. I see that Connecticut is not on the
native range map so maybe that is why. It does have a more traditional fall color. Since it doesn’t have lobes I am not sure what group it fits into. Checking Wikipedia’s list of Quercus species I see it is in the red group.
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Finally my backup plan was to use this Hydrangea as my ‘Q’ post. It is called Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). It isn’t quite in its fall color yet in this area but this one is starting. It is a good shrub that is a bit underused in the landscape. It doesn’t have great deer resistance so maybe that is why. It really is a lot different then what most people would consider for Hydrangea but I like to use them, especially the dwarf types which are more manageable. It is one of only two types of Hydrangea native to the United States.
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20 comments:
500 species of oaks eh? And there I've been all these years believing and oak tree is just an oak tree. Great colours from the leaves.
Such lovely fall colors. I like the last picture, leaves going purplish instead of red!
Quercus? I wouldn't have known.
Awesome and such an inspirational post. Fantastic pictures.
Beautiful pictures! We have oaks a plenty around here but none with colors like that.
Oaks are one of my favorites! Here in VA they are the last to hold their beautiful color after the early trees have dropped. Great pics like always.
I also have the oakleaf hydrangea but some critter always eats the leaves so they arent much good for photography!
What an outstanding post with wonderful-to-see photographs of a most beautifully colorful tree. I liked every bit of this.
Love the colors and the last leaf macro - beautiful!
Aha - a working knowledge of latin helps with the difficult letters. :)))
Gorgeous colour on those leaves.
That's a lot of info about oaks. Great photos!
Very nice so much information on a oak trees and the leaves thanks so much
Those are awesome. Oaks are my second favorite tree.
i just love the great colours of fall.
Love the reds, sharpness and detail, ex"Q"usite
What a beautiful and colourful blog. Isn't nature fantastic?
And you have captured it so well.
I adore Autumn (Fall, to you across the pond) it's my favourite time of year.
:)
Riveting information. Like Mike, I thought an oak was just an oak. Shame on me! Gorgeous colours, they don't half lift your spirits and fill you with the wonder of nature.
Thanks everyone. I sure had a nice time looking at everyone's 'Q' posts.
I love the richness of the colours. Beautiful!
Very cool post, DFP, especially since we have few oaks that change colors like that! Most of our oaks are Live Oaks - Quercus virginiana. The leaves turn yellow-brown in late winter/early spring, drop and regrow in a few weeks.
I hope an Oakleaf Hydrangea will grow in my garden some day.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
The red leaves shimmer like no others.
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