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Valley Oak
Scientific Name:
Quercus lobata
Type:
Tree
Habitat:
Riparian forests, woodlands, and valley savannas
Range:
Native to the Central Valley of California; cultivated elsewhere
Status:
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NON-NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
These winter deciduous trees have grayish bark with a thick, blocky texture. Their distinct lobe-shaped leaves are dark green on top, lighter underneath, and 2 to 4 inches in length. They produce acorns, which are also 2 to 4 inches in length, and have an umbrella shaped canopy.
Fast Facts:
Prior to the late 1800s' agricultural clearing in the Central Valley of California, these trees were flourishing - as was the land.
Studies have shown that valley oaks are the largest of all North American oaks. In just 20 years they often grow up to 60 feet tall.
Valley oaks' life expectancy is over 250 years.
This species prefers fertile soil, this is why it is often found in valleys (as its name reflects). However, since their taproot can reach 60 feet deep within its first 10 years of life, they are known to survive extreme drought conditions.
Valley oaks are often cultivated and planted in urban areas in the western United States, including at Idlewild Park here in Reno.
Sources:
UCLA, Valley Oak, https://sorklab.eeb.ucla.edu/research/valley-oak
California Native Plant Society, Valley Oak, https://calscape.org/Quercus-lobata-()
IUCN Red List, Valley Oak, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61983021/61983023
Image: James St. John, https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/49092893853, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped from original.
Image: Eugene Zelenko, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_lobata-6.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Bridget Mulkerin (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)