Difference between revisions of "Quercus virginiana"

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(Created page with '{{SPlantbox |Min ht metric=cm |Temp Metric=°F |image=Upload.png |image_width=240 }} {{Inc| Quercus virginiana, Mill. (Q. virens, Ait.). Live Oak. Figs. 3317-3319. Evergreen tre…')
 
 
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|familia=Fagaceae
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|genus=Quercus
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|species=virginiana
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|common_name=Southern live oak
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|name_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|habit=tree
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|habit_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|Min ht box=40
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|Max ht box=80
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|height_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|lifespan=perennial
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|life_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|exposure=sun
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|water=moist
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|water_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|features=evergreen
 
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|min_zone=8
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|usda_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
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|max_zone=10.5
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|image=Live oak Georgetown.jpg
 
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{{Inc|
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'''''Quercus virginiana''''', also known as the '''southern live oak''', is an [[evergreen]] or nearly evergreen [[oak]] [[tree]] native to the [[Southeastern United States|southeastern]] [[United States]]. Though many other species are loosely called [[live oak]], the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the [[Old South]].<ref name = southern>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Quercus virginiana | encyclopedia = The Southern Living Garden Book | editor-last = Bender | editor-first = Steve | year = 2004 | month = January | edition = 2nd | ISBN = 0-376-03910-8 | publisher = Oxmoor House | location = Birmingham, Alabama}}</ref>
Quercus virginiana, Mill. (Q. virens, Ait.). Live Oak. Figs.
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3317-3319. Evergreen tree, to 50 or rarely to 70 ft., with almost
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[[File:East bay street 2222.JPG|thumb|A street overarched by live oaks in [[Georgetown, South Carolina]]]]
horizontal limbs, forming a wide-spreading head; sometimes shrubby:
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Depending on the growing conditions, live oaks vary from the shrubby to large and spreading: typical open-grown trees reach 15 meters (45 feet) in height, but may span nearly 50 meters. Their lower limbs often sweep down towards the ground before curving up again. They can grow at severe angles, and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] used to bend saplings over so that they would grow at extreme angles, to serve as trail markers. They drop their leaves, and grow new ones, within a few weeks in spring. The bark is furrowed longitudinally, and the acorns are small, but long and tapered. The branches frequently support other plant species such as rounded clumps of [[ball moss]], thick drapings of [[Spanish moss]], [[Pleopeltis polypodioides|resurrection fern]], and parasitic [[mistletoe]].
lvs. elliptic or oblong, usually entire, with revolute margin, rarely
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with a few spiny teeth above the middle, dark green and glossy above,  
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Southern live oak can grow in moist to dry sites. They can withstand occasional floods and hurricanes, and are resistant to salt spray and moderate soil salinity. They tend to survive fire, because often a fire will not reach their [[crown (botany)|crowns]]. Even if a tree is burned, its crowns and roots usually survive the fire and sprout vigorously. Furthermore, live oak forests discourage entry of fire from adjacent communities because they provide dense cover that discourages the growth of a flammable understory. Although they grow best in well-drained sandy soils and loams, they will also grow in clay. Live oaks are also surprisingly hardy. Those of southern provenance can easily be grown in USDA zone 7 and the Texas live oak (Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis), having the same evergreen foliage as the southern variety, can be grown with success in areas as cold as zone 6. Even with significant winter leaf burn, these trees can make a strong comeback during the growing season in more northerly areas, such New Jersey, southern Ohio, and southern Connecticut.
whitish tomentulose beneath, 1-3 in. long: fr. peduncled; acorn ovate,  
 
about 1 in. long, embraced about one-third by the cup; scales thin,  
 
appressed. Va. to Fla., west to Mex. S.S. 8:394, 395. G.F. 1:476;
 
5:486, 487; 6:7; 8:235. F.R. 1:643. Gng.8:1. G.W. 9, p. 505.—One of the  
 
most beautiful of the American oaks and much planted as a shade and
 
avenue tree in the southern states; easily transplanted and of rapid
 
growth; also very valuable as a timber tree.
 
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Describe the plant here...
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The tree crown is very dense, making it valuable for shade, and the species provides nest sites for many other species.
  
 
==Cultivation==
 
==Cultivation==
<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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Care for the southern live oak is very easy, as it requires very little watering while it is young. After it is four to five feet tall, watering can be forgotten, and no more care is required. It is long-lived; trees in excess of 500 years were once common, and one, the [[Angel Oak]] on [[Johns Island, South Carolina]] is estimated at 1400 years of age (however, this has not been scientifically verified); it is 20 m tall, 2.47 m diameter, and has a maximum spread (longest branch) of 27 m; the crown covers an area of 1,580 m<sup>2</sup>.
  
 
===Propagation===
 
===Propagation===
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==References==
 
==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
 
 
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
 
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
 
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

Latest revision as of 05:13, 1 June 2011


Live oak Georgetown.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   tree

Height: 40 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 40. to 80 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 80.
Lifespan: perennial
Cultivation
Exposure: sun
Water: moist
Features: evergreen
USDA Zones: 8 to 10.5
Scientific Names

Fagaceae >

Quercus >

virginiana >


Quercus virginiana, also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen or nearly evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States. Though many other species are loosely called live oak, the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the Old South.[1]

A street overarched by live oaks in Georgetown, South Carolina

Depending on the growing conditions, live oaks vary from the shrubby to large and spreading: typical open-grown trees reach 15 meters (45 feet) in height, but may span nearly 50 meters. Their lower limbs often sweep down towards the ground before curving up again. They can grow at severe angles, and Native Americans used to bend saplings over so that they would grow at extreme angles, to serve as trail markers. They drop their leaves, and grow new ones, within a few weeks in spring. The bark is furrowed longitudinally, and the acorns are small, but long and tapered. The branches frequently support other plant species such as rounded clumps of ball moss, thick drapings of Spanish moss, resurrection fern, and parasitic mistletoe.

Southern live oak can grow in moist to dry sites. They can withstand occasional floods and hurricanes, and are resistant to salt spray and moderate soil salinity. They tend to survive fire, because often a fire will not reach their crowns. Even if a tree is burned, its crowns and roots usually survive the fire and sprout vigorously. Furthermore, live oak forests discourage entry of fire from adjacent communities because they provide dense cover that discourages the growth of a flammable understory. Although they grow best in well-drained sandy soils and loams, they will also grow in clay. Live oaks are also surprisingly hardy. Those of southern provenance can easily be grown in USDA zone 7 and the Texas live oak (Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis), having the same evergreen foliage as the southern variety, can be grown with success in areas as cold as zone 6. Even with significant winter leaf burn, these trees can make a strong comeback during the growing season in more northerly areas, such New Jersey, southern Ohio, and southern Connecticut.

The tree crown is very dense, making it valuable for shade, and the species provides nest sites for many other species.

Cultivation

Care for the southern live oak is very easy, as it requires very little watering while it is young. After it is four to five feet tall, watering can be forgotten, and no more care is required. It is long-lived; trees in excess of 500 years were once common, and one, the Angel Oak on Johns Island, South Carolina is estimated at 1400 years of age (however, this has not been scientifically verified); it is 20 m tall, 2.47 m diameter, and has a maximum spread (longest branch) of 27 m; the crown covers an area of 1,580 m2.

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

Gallery

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References

External links