Table of Con

The Name Game...... • • • 3 Clonal Oak Propogation: Almost a Reality...... 36 Homonyms, Synonyms, and Frustrations: An Introduction Garry Oak Communities in to the Name Problems of Oaks . • 6 Canada: Classification, Characterization and Nomenclature Problems in Oak Conservation ...... 40

Propogation • • • • • • • • . 13 Among the Oak Forests of

Oak Barrels: Where They Come Borneo and Java. . . . . • • • • 55 from and How They Are Mad~ . • 19

Author's Guidelines . . . • • • • 65 A New Species of Red Oak (Quercus sec. lobatae) from International Oaks is edited and Central Mexico ...... 30 designed by Russell K. Stare, Auburn, lllinois About the Cover ______The new logo for the International Oak Society, unveiled this issue, was designed by Niki Simpson, a freelance botanical artist. Several ideas were suggested to show joining and unity. Simpson responded with this idea. The oak-leaf continents are based on a specimen of Quercus xbimundorum, a hybrid between 0. roburand 0. alba, thus linking both the New and Old Worlds.

Anyone interested in joining the International Oak benefits include publications, conferences, and ex­ Society or ordering information should contact changes of seeds and information among men1- Peter van der Linden at the membership office. bers fron1 30 nations on six continents. Membership dues are U.S. $15 per year, and ntact the Inter tional 0 Soci Business office: Editorial office: Membership payments: Guy Sternberg, President Doug McCreary International Oak Society Starhill Forest Integrated Hardwood c/o Richard Jensen Route 1, Box 272 R ange Mgt. Program Department of Biology Petersburg, Illinois 6267 5 University of California Saint Mary's College USA 8279 Scott Forbes Road Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 e-tnail: Browns Valley, California USA strhlfrst@ aol.com 95918 e-mail: USA rjensen@sai ntmarys.edu e-n1ail: [email protected] International Oaks

by Guy Sternberg Starhill Forest Arboretum NAPPC Oak Reference Collection Petersburg, Illinois USA

n this issue of International Oaks we attempt to relieve, or at least explain, some of the confusion surrounding oak nomenclature. The following brief guideline is in­ tended primarily for authors and reviewers working with papers for publication in International Oaks. It also tnay be very helpful for the majority of readers, who probably are not specialists in taxonomy and not completely familiar with current nomenclature of the genus Quercus. Beginning in the broadest sense, and continuing through levels of in­ creasingly fine detail, oaks may be described as follows:

Family= Fagaceae (Pronounced "fah-GAY -see-ee" or "fay­ Gay-see''.) This family includes oaks and their closest relatives, such as beeches (Fagus), chestnuts (Castanea), chinkapins ( Castanopsis), lithocarps (Lithocarpus, including Pasania), tan oaks ( Chrysolepis), and some obscure genera (Trigonobalanus, Colontbobalanus, F orntanodendron). Another genus, the southern beeches (Nothofagus), some­ times is included, but sometimes placed in its own family, the Nothofagaceae.

Genus = Oak (In English) = Quercus (In Latin: written in italic and capitalized.)

Subgenera are: • Scale-cup oaks = Subgenus Quercus

contd. on pg. 4

' No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page ·3 International Oaks

ameGame • • • contd. from pg. 3 ,

• Ring-cup oaks - Subgenus talized, and the entire name down Cyclobalanopsis through species level is written in ital­ (Note that some authorities dispute the ics.) recognition of only two subgenera, sepa­ rating the red oaks from Subgenus Several Botanical Names in the same Quercus and giving them subgeneric genus written in a single paper = rank as Subgenus Erythrobalanus; oth­ Quercus alba, Q. velutina, Q. rubra (Af­ ers still consider Cyclobalanopsis a dis­ ter naming the genus, subsequent us­ tinct genus, like Lithocarpus.) age may be abbreviated Q.)

Sections within the scale-cup oaks are: Variety Name = Quercus alba var. pinnatifida (The abbreviation "var." • White oaks= Section Quercus (Note: stands for variety, and is neither capital­ also called Lepidobalanus, ized nor italicized. A variety is a sub­ Leucobalanus, Euquercus) classification within a species.) • Red oaks = Section Lobatae (Note: also called Erythrobalanus, Rubrae) Cultivar Name = Quercus frainetto • Golden oaks = Section Protobalanus 'Schmidt' (formerly Q. frainetto cv. (Sometimes called "Intermediate Oaks") Schmidt) (A cultivar is literally a "culti­ (Sections can be further divided into vated variety"; published cultivar names Series, such as Series Virentes, the east­ are capitalized as proper nouns and en­ ern live oaks of North and Central closed by single quotes.) America.) Registered Trademark Name for the Subspecies are recognized within many same oak =Forest Green ® Oak. A trade­ species (e.g. Quercus petraea subsp. mark name is used in the United States huguetiana.) to protect the marketing rights for a cul­ tivar, because plant patents eventually • Vernacular (common) Name of a spe­ expire but trademarks in continuous use cies = white oak. do not. (The trademark is not the official name of the cultivar, but is used in the • Botanical (Latin) Name of the same spe­ nursery trade. The full citation would cies = Quercus alba (The genus is capi- include the cultivar name followed by International Oaks the trademark name.) brid epithet, and spoken "Quercus macdanielii" or sometimes, for clarity, Author Attributions: "Quercus cross macdanielii". • Species with attribution = Quercus Formula name for the same cross = alba L. ("L." is short for Linnaeus, who Quercus robur x Q. macrocarpa (Note first named and described this species.) spaces surrounding the cross sign on • Variety with attribution = Quercus both sides in a formula name. In this ex­ ample, Q. robur is placed first because it shumardii B uckl. var. acerifolia Palmer is the known pistillate parent for the type; (Buckley first named and described the when the parents' respective genders are species, and Palmer defined the variety.) unknown, the parent species usually are • Corrected name = Quercus placed in alphabetical order.) shangxiensis Z.K.Zhou nom. nov. Q. lanceolata S.Z.Qu et W.H.Zhang. non Vernacular (common) Name for the same Q. lanceolata Bonpl. (Note that the plant cross = English oak x bur oak (Also: names are shown in italics, but not the McDaniel oak.) authors' names; authors' names which include initials are written without inter­ Hopefully, this simplified summary of nal spaces. In this example, Dr. Zhekun some of the confusing format conven­ Zhou corrected the name of a Chinese tions we use to describe oaks will make oak found in Shangxi. The name Q. International Oaks more user friendly lanceolata is a later homonym because for all members. If you plan to submit a it was assigned by S.Z. Qu and W.H. paper, or if understanding some of our Zhang to this oak but had been applied most technical papers sometimes is dif­ earlier, i. e. with priority, to a Mexican oak ficult, please copy this guide and keep it species; the new, valid name for the Chi­ handy for future reference. nese species is Q. shangxiensis.)

Hybrid Epithets: Epithet for a named hybrid oak = Quercus xmacdanielii (Written as: Ge­ nus [space] cross sign [no space] hy- International Oaks

' ' •• e e

by Thierry Lamant Office National des Forets Conservatoire de Resources Genetiques Ardon, France and Guy Sternberg Starhill Forest Arboretum NAPPC Oak Reference Collection Petersburg, Illinois USA

he nomenclature of the genus Quercus is a nightmare for non-taxonomists. It can be very difficult even for skilled scientists to navigate the jungle of Latin names and conflicting authors, and some may find their research results, botanical collections, herbaria, or nursery catalogs compromised by confusion. Here is an overview of the situ­ ation, presented by non-taxonomists for the benefit of other non-taxonomists. One of the main difficulties encountered with oak names involves different authors applying the satne name to differ­ ent species. An example can be found in the trees fonnerly known as Q. prinus L. in the United States. This old name covered at least two different species (Q.montana Willd. in common usage, but perhaps more correctly by priority of publication Q.michauxii Nuttall). It is not clear which speci- Internlttional Oaks men Linnaeus used for his type. In cur­ rent literature, the name Q. prinus is be­ ing discarded for this reason. These species have a close relative, the dwarf chestnut oak Q. prinoides L. Among other names, it has been called Q. prinus var. pumila Michx., Q. prinus var. h~,;unilis Marshall , and Q. prinus var. chi neap in F.Michx. But since Q. prinus itself is a confused name, where does Foliage of the Texas oak species Quercu buckelyi Nixon and Dorr (formerly kn o\\'11 o~ Quercu. texana) this leave the dwarf chestnut oak? It at the Ne ll M exico J\!lilitary Institute in Roswell, seems closest to the yellow chestnut oak Neu· Mexico. Q. 1nuhlenbergii Engelm. (some try to spel1 it Q. muehlenbergii, or even Q. miihlenbergii). This larger species once

"0 was thought to be a variety of the dwarf L ~ ...... 0 ~ .., L species. Luckily, the point is moot, be­ :::J l((l co cause dwarf chestnut oak is now recog­ L>- L 0 nized as a distinct species. _.) >- ...0 0 Another case involves the confused +- ..s::0 name Q. texana Buckley. The name, at n. one taxonomic level or another, com­ Foiiage of Quercus nuttallii E.J. Palmer (renamed monly is applied to a small Shun1ard-like Quercus texana Buckley due to cm~jitsion over the type specimen) near Taylm; Arkansas. oak found in Texas (= Q. shumardii var. or subsp. texana). The name also has extending west across the Texas border. been used for Q. gravesii Sudworth, This obviously was not Buckley's intent, another Texas species. Either application and applying Q. texana to this species seems logical to the casual observer serves only to increase confusion. In since these both are predominantly such cases we son1etimcs serve the rules, Texas trees. But, again, there was confu­ regardless of logic or consequences, sion regarding the type specimen. The rather than having the rule serve us. unfortunate result is that Q. texana (as Occasionally those rules n1ay be inter­ attributed to Buckley) now has been "cor­ preted in seeming defiance of their un­ rected" in a narrow-viewed interpreta­ derlying purpose, perhaps by an over­ tion of the rules of nomenclature to ap­ enthusiastic taxonomist seduced by the ply to Nuttall oak, commonly known in satisfaction of renaming a plant. More the literature as Q. nuttallii E.J.Palmer. likely some taxonomists . till re1nain in- A native of the Mississippi River Valley, Nuttall oak is not a Texas tree, barely contd. on pg. 8

No.1 0 .1 Spring 2000 . . Page 7 International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 7

tent upon following blindly the rule of plant taxonomists, while such work priority of publication, regardless of the continues, to avoid displacing well-es­ resultant displacement of established tablished names for purely nomencla­ names. tural reasons, whether by change in Recent recommendations (e.g. at the their application or by resurrection of Tokyo International Botanical Congress) long-forgotten na1nes ... " fortunately discourage such a narrow Perhaps a more appropriate solution view. For example, one resolution of the in this particular example would have Tokyo Congress stated in part, "Con­ been to conserve the established name sidering the great importance of a for Nuttall oak as Nomen Specificun'l stable system of scientific nan1es of Conservandum. Hopefully, Q. nuttallii plants for use in the pure and applied will indeed be conserved during the next sciences and in n1any other domains of IBC, and poor old Q. texana will be re­ public life and economy; noting with jected as a nomen confusum and laid to satisfaction recent important ilnprove­ rest. Many people will wonder what be­ n'lents in the Inte rnational Code of Bo­ came of Q. texana, whatever species that tanical Nomenclature and ongoing ef- name meant to them. But at least Q. forts to explore new avenues for in­ nuttallii and the new name for Texas creased stability and security in the Shumard oak (Q. buckleyi) are discrete application of· plant names; the XV In­ and will not be used interchangeably for ternational Botanical Congress urges the same species.

(J) L +- a) c ..0 c 0 L E a) 0 +- -l V) L L ..s: a) +- ·- -o·- ..s:._ UJ >- ~ ..0 0 5 +- <..!) 0 ..s: © 0... Quercus castaneifolia C./\. Mey. at the British Na­ Quercus afares Pomel at the National Arboretwn des tional Oak Reference Collection, Sir Harold Hillier Ban·es, France. Arboretum, Hampshire, England. International Oaks

The name Q. serrata similarly has been applied by different authors to several species, including one, Castanopsis in­ dica (Roxb. ex Lindl.) A.D.C., that is not even an oak! The rules of priority have caused it to be assigned officially to the Asian species most of us outside of J a­ pan know as Q. glandulifera Blume. This frequently cultivated oak now must be Quercus liboensis Z.K. Zhou (syn. Cyclobalanopsis named Q. serrata Thunb., thus confus­ pseudoglauca YK. Li et X.M. Wang ) at the National ing it with Q. acutissima Carruth. and Q. Arboretum des Ban-es, France. variabilis Blume, two species which also (= Q. aegilops Boiss. and Q. aegilops are found in Asia and have shared the var. vallonea A.Camus), Q. brantii Lindl., Q. serrata homonym epithet. If sufficient Q. ithaburensis Decne. var. ithaburensis protest is raised, perhaps Q. serrata also (= Q. look Kotschy ), Q. ithaburensis var. might be retired as nomen confusum and macrolepis Boiss. (= Q. macrolepis the familiar Q. glandulifera Blume res­ Kotschy, Q. g raeca Kotschy, Q. urrected and conserved. But then again, aegilops Lam. and even Q. ithaburensis the Japanese, who have used the name subsp. macrolepis Hedge & Yaltirik). Q. serrata for years, might have cause This last usage was included in Flora of to become upset and it is their tree, Turkey and Aegean Islands in 1981. In after all. this list also could be found Q. aegilops Asia also is home to the Scop. and Q. aegilops Griseb. Q. Cyclobalanopsis group (the ring­ aegilops Scop. is simply a synonym of cupped oaks). Discussions have per­ Q. cerris L. (One of its other synonyms sisted for decades regarding the status is Q. lanuginosa Lam., but be careful, of this group, previously considered by because Q. lanuginosa Thuill. is a syn­ some to be a separate genus, but now, onym of Q. pubescens Will d.!) Q. by most, to be a subgenus of Quercus. aegilops Griseb. is in reality Q. trojana So if we find a species listed in old litera­ Webb. ( = Q. n1acedonica DC. and Q. ture as Cyclobalanopsis pseudoglauca g risebachii Kotschy). Y.K.Li et X.M.Wang, how many readers Some taxa are so closely related that will recognize it as Quercus liboensis their species status is in dispute. For ex­ Z.K.Zhou, corrected in 1998 by Dr. ample, Q. haas Kotschy (= Q. roburvar. Zhekun Zhou in a paper published in haas DC.) is close to Q. robur L. (but International Oaks issue number 8? don't confuse it with Q. haas Wenzig). We might turn to Q. aegilops L. as a The subspecies Q. robur subsp. classic example of a nomen confusum. This name covered Q. vallonea Kotschy contd. on pg. 10

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 9 International Oaks ~------~

• • •

contd. from pg. 9

pedunculiflora I<.Koch (Menitsky) (= Q. North An1erican bluejack oak Q. incana pedun cul~flora K.Koch, and Q. rhodopea W.Bartram is a homonym, not closely Vel.) also is very close to Q. robur L. These connected either taxonotnically or geo­ taxa form a geographic continuum \Vith graphically with the Himalayan species Q. robur frotn Southeastern Europe to the Q. incana Roxb. (correctly known as Q. Transcaucasus. They are regarded by leucotrichophora A .Camus). Q. various authorities as deserving vari ous dalechan1pii Ten. ( = Q. aurea Wierzb.), degrees of taxonotnic rank. In such cases, a species related to Q. petraea Liebl. (per­ local botanists often seem to notice con­ haps closer to Q. pubescens Willd.), also sistent differences between such taxa. has a homonym: Q. da /echcunpii Wenz. Perhaps because they live among them This one is in reality Q. virgiliana Ten., throughout the seasons, and thus they another Mediterranean oak. often consider thetn as distinct species. Nearby, in North Africa, lives the spe­ Distant botanists working only frotn her­ cies known as Q. afa res Pon1el (= Q. bariunl specin1ens, or visiting a habitat castane ~folia var. algeriensis Bean, and only occasionally, n1ight instead tend to Q. castaneifol ia var. inc ana Batt.). For a be "lutnpers~ ~ and subjugate the several long time this species was described as a taxa under a singJe species. Such are the synonym of Q. castoneij'olia C.A.Mey, dile1nn1as caused by hutnan atte1npts to an oak frotn central Asia. Q. qfares is gen­ classify and categorize the continuun1 of erally considered to be a distinct species nature. fron1 Q. castane~fo lia, which differs fron1 Many other exatnples can be found . The the typical form in the erect or pyramidal

0'1 0 0'1 L L ~ ~ ..0 ...0s:: s:: L L ~ ~ +- +- V) V) ..c: ..c: +- +- -o·- -o·- w UJ ~ ~ ~ ~ :::1 :::1 ~ '-!:) © © Turkey oak (Quercus lacvis \Valter) at Manchester State Forest, South Carolina, USA (LEFT); Turkey oak (Qu crc u ~ ccrris L. ) .fi·mn Romania provenance, at Star/till Forest Arboretum, Illinois, USA (RIGHT). International Oaks

habit, much smaller leaves, young shoots nomenclatural priority and taxonomy we more downy, and acorns clustered four have selected for some of the taxa we cite or five together (fewer in Q. as examples. These challenges may be castaneifolia). By any name, Q. afares is quite defensible, but of course they will • as hardy as Q. castaneifolia in the gar­ serve well to reinforce our basic point! dens of Northern France. One recent treatment (the Kew World Also in the Mediterranean, Checklist and Bibliograph) of Fagales) I Q. calliprinos Webb. (= Q. palaestina lists nearly 3000 synonyms for oaks, re­ Kotschy) is the tree-form subspecies or ferring each to what is recommended as relative of Q. coccifera L., and many con­ an accepted name. There are many famil­ sider it to be a distinct species. Q. iar old names being discarded in that list, coccifera is a scrub oak (3-4m maximum). and some of them will not die quietly. The plant distinguished by some as Q. These problems are likely to haunt us for calliprinos is taller, often with one single years to come. trunk, and has more oblong leaves and The oaks add yet another dimension 1nore elongated, linear cup scales on the to all this confusion, due to their propen­ acorn (which is 2-3 em long). The acorns sity to form interspecific hybrids within are enclosed by half or less in the cup infrageneric groups. The frequent uncer­ (half or more for Q. coccifera). tainty of parentage, coupled with dis­ Other examples include Q. mas Thore, agreements regarding the proper hybrid an oak which poses different questions. epithets and their typographic presenta­ This species is listed in books as being tion, are complex and beyond the scope found in Southwest France and Spain. of this paper. Then there are the dj verse But it is not included in a new French treatments for taxonomic groups of spe­ flora as a synonym of any French oak. cies below the rank of genus. Are they The Kew World Checklist and Bibliog­ subgenera, sections, or series? And is the raphy ofFa gales classifies it as a syn­ white oak group correctly designated onym of Q. petraea Liebl. Q. polycarpa Quercus, Lepidobalanus, Leucobalanus, Schur. and Q. iberica Bieb. also are close or Euquercus? (The correct answer is the to Q. petraea Liebl. and not universally first one, but the others are more fre­ regarded as distinct. The leaves of Q. quently seen in old or non-taxonomic lit­ iberica Bieb are obovate lanceolate, with erature.) rounded and somewhat cordate bases. Are you ready to give up on botanical Young leaves of Q. polycarpa Schur. are names and use vernacular names? The puberulous beneath, and the acorn cup solution is not so simple. For example, has thickened, gibbous scales. how will you reconcile the Turkey oak As soon as our paper is published, we (Q. cerris L.) with the turkey oak (Q. laevis anticipate instant feedback from many knowledgeable readers, disputing the contd. on pg. 12

No.10 I Spring 2000 Page 11 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 11

Walter), two species from different conti­ help as well, for those few people who nents and different taxonomic groups? are involved deeply enough with oak no­ (Many of us now do so by using "Turk­ menclature to do so. Someday, the Inter­ ish oak" for the former, but we must re­ national Oak Society may serve as the member that there are many other oaks international registrar for the genus and also native to Turkey.) And what is the coordinate oak nomenclature worldwide, true "white" oak "red" oak "black" oak beginning with cultivars. ' ' ' "scrub" oak, or "swamp" oak? Every re- For the majority of us whose expertise gion claims its own. How would you dis­ (and professional life work) is not tax­ tinguish among the ubiquitous encinos onomy, here is some good advice. Always and robles of Latin America? These com­ try to use valid names. But to avoid pos­ mon names apply to more than a hundred sible confusion, remember to add the au­ spectes.• thor attribution to the botanical name in Furthermore, if we used only vernacu­ your research paper, and on the label of lar names, how many people would know every seedling or packet of acorns! that the English oak of Britain, the quercia The authors appreciate the technical of Italy, and the stieleiche of Germany all review provided by Dr. Allen Coombes are the same species the common Eu­ of the Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum, ropean pedunculate oak, Q. robur L.? Hampshire, United Kingdom. (Dr. And how can we account for the prob­ Coombes is the lead taxonomic reviewer lems caused by unscrupulous or careless for International Oaks.) nurserymen who explore for plants, fail to identify them properly (or at all), and For further reading release them into the trade under invalid W.J.Bean, Trees and shrubs hardy in the British or invented names? Isles The only true answer is to use Latin G.Krtissmann, Manual of Trees and Shrubs Index Kewensis (on CD-ROM, Oxford Univer­ names in accordance with the rules given sity Press) in the most current edition of the Interna­ Flora of North America, Vol. 3: Magnoliophyta tional Code of Botanical Nomenclature. (Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae) The new World Checklist and Bibliog­ R. Govaerts and D. Frodin, World Checklist and raphy of Fagales will be very useful for Bibliography of Fagales International Oaks, Issue No. 8, Summer 1998 some of these problems. Keeping current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, with esoteric journals such as Taxon will adopted by the Fifteenth Internationa1 Botani­ ca1 Congress, Yokohama, Japan, 1993

· Page 12 No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

•

by Allen J. Coombes Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum Romsey, Hampshire, UK

he meeting in Kassel, Germany in September 1998 served to highlight a problem that many oak enthusi­ asts have been aware of for many years; the problem of hybridisation when oaks are raised from garden seed. The tour of the gardens in Kassel showed that many trees considered belonging to a particular species were, in fact, hybrids. Of course, this is not a problem that is restricted to Kassel. It can be found in many oak collections. For gardens having the necessary space to maintain an extensive collec­ tion I see this as only a minor problem. Hybrids can be just as attractive and, once their parentage is known, as interest­ ing as their parents, and most are less common in culti va­ tion. For example, in Wilhelmshohe we came across a tree said to be Q. marilandica (L.) Mtinchh., which was, in fact, Q. x bushii Sarg., the hybrid of that species with Q. velutina Lam. which occurs naturally in the eastern United States. At Karlsaue we encountered many hybrids. These included Q. bicolor Will d. x Q. macrocarpa Michx., a likely hybrid where the parents are grown together. Both Q. frainetto Ten. and Q. macranthera Fisch. & C~A. Mey. ex Hohen. appear to have crossed with Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl which was prob­ ably the common native oak where the seed was collected. Q. canariensis Willd. had crossed with Q. robur L .

• contd. on pg. 14

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 13 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 13

Many fine hybrid oaks are grown in so can be called Q. x hu1nidicola E.J. gardens. Some of them very popular, Palmer. I suspect that the hybrid between such as Q. x hispanica Lam., Q. x turneri Q. macrocarpa and Q. robur will be more Willd. and others. And, if gardeners had in demand now that it has been named not experimented with raising plants Q. x macdanielii W.J. Hess. from garden seed, these plants would Propagation by seed is even more not be with us today. Other deserving problematic because of the high prob­ hybrids have never quite made it. How ability that acorns from a mixed collec­ many of us have seen and coveted the tion will give rise to hybrids. This is not fine Q. x hickelii A. Camus at Les restricted to plants that have been with Barres? It is a petfect oak for a small gar­ us for a long time. The relatively recently den, only waiting to be propagated. introduced Q. rhysophylla Weath., cul­ With so many incorrectly labelled tivated for only a little over 20 years, now . plants in gardens, a nurseryman attempt­ co1nmonly produces hybrids with other ing to offer a good selection of oaks is red oaks. Since it is easier to raise it from faced with a dilemma. While grafting is the seed that is now being produced in assumed to be a reliable method of propa­ gardens than to collect material from the gation, it is not only subject to potential wild in Mexico, many plants are incor­ incompatibility proble1ns, it also relies on rectly identified. Growing plants from obtaining correctly identified material. garden seed is certainly corrunendable Like a garden, a nursery propagating in one way; it avoids the often illegal oaks by grafting is faced with a minor collecting of seed of this rare species. In problem, and the name of the offered this and similar cases, our intention plants can be changed once their true should certainly be a sustainable pro­ identity is established. For example, in duction without further depleting native Kassel we were shown material offered populations. for sale as Q. lyrata Walter which was Unfortunately, Q. rhysophylla has so almost certainly a hybrid with Q. bicolor. far proved to be very difficult to propa­ It is a simple matter to change the la­ gate vegetatively. However, there is no bel, but a hybrid such as this is going to reason why further research could not have less appeal than its parent species, find a suitable method. even if it would make just as fine a tree. I would be very wary of any oaks At least this cross has a hybrid epithet grown from seed collected in cultivation,

Page 14 No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Species status tor {luercus acerijo!La (~ · agacae)

International Oaks

~ .D E 0 0 '-> c -~ -~ ~ .D 0 ~ 0 ..s:: 0.. Quercus xbrittoni i, found at Rosemoor Garden in Devon, England.

and suspect them to be hybrids until robur and Q. petraea. However, when proven otherwise. Of course, only by ex­ its close relatives, such as Q. perimenting can we discover which oaks castaneifolia C.A. Mey., Q. libani G. will hybridise with which other species. Olivier, and Q. acutissin~a Carruth. are The problem with trees in cultivation grown in areas where Q. cerris is com­ i that exotic species are usually single mon, hybrids are likely to result. plants sutTounded by dominant native Propagation of hybrid oaks presents oaks, and the chance of them pollinat­ a problem. Those that produce viable ing themselves is small. Where larger seed, which seems to be most of them, numbers of trees are grown, the offspring can give mixed results. A row of seed­ are more likely to be true to the parent. lings we were shown from the splendid Plants that are isolated, either geographi­ tree of Q. xstreintii Heuff. 'Pungens' at cally or taxonomically are likely to come Karlsaue had produced several of ap­ true from any seed that is produced. Q. parently the same parentage as the par- cerris L., for example, comes true from seed in Europe because it will not cross with the comtnon native species, Q. contd. on pg. 16

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 15 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 15

ent tree (Q. petraea X Q. pubescens I recently obtained a plant said to be ( Willd.), but one plant was obviously the Q. xbrittonii only to find that it showed result of pollination by Q. robur giving no influence of either of the supposed an oak with 3 parents. Even if a hybrid is parents. This hybrid, between two of pollinated by one of its parents, the re­ North America's most distinct species, sulting plants will tend to be close to the Q. ilicifolia Wangenh. and Q. pollinating parent. marilandica, should be easy to A particularly good way to propagate recognise and I did come across it re­ a hybrid is to raise it anew each time. cently when I was shown some seed­ Thus, at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens lings said to be of Q. marilandica. Some and Arboretum, we raised seedlings of of these were obviously hybrids with Q. Q. macrocarpa which fruited in 1995, a velutina (Q. xbushii) while others were good year here for many species. All the hybrids with Q. ilicifolia (Q. xbrittonii), offspring appear to be hybrids with Q. and, being offered a plant, I was able to robur and are no more attractive now pick out the perfect intermediate. The that this hybrid has been named. The vagaries of cross-pollination are, how­ same can be accomplished in North ever, inadequate for the commercial nurs­ America by collecting seed of Q. robur eryman, who needs a reliable source of growing amongst Q. macrocarpa. In fact material. But one who is enterprising and seed of Q. robur from North America knowledgeable enough could easily could be of great interest to collectors in raise and select such hybrids. Europe, as long as we know the likely Nomenclatural changes often pose a pollinator. This, however, is of little use problem to oak growers. It is important to the nurseryman. If he wants to grow to remember that the application of any Q. xbrittonii W.T.Davis for example, plant name is defined by the type speci­ does he ask for seed of it, or one of its men, and when we consider changing parents? Seed from the hybrid itself, is the name of a garden plant for nomen­ likely to produce a backcross to one of clatural reasons, we should always take ' the parents or hybrids with a third spe­ this into account. At Karlsaue an example cies. As with species, grafted plants can illustrated this very well when we were suffer from incompatibility, or, as is the shown a tree under the name Q. case with several currently available, be xambigua F. Michx. At one time this propagated from mis-identified plants. name was considered to apply to hybrids

Page 16 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks between Q. coccinea Mtinchh. and Q. ever, will show some degree of variation. rubra L. I imagine this was the consid­ For example, the plant named Q. robur ered parentage of the tree and so, when 'Cristata' will produce seedlings differ­ that name was current, it was given to ing in habit and size of leaf and acorn, the tree believed to be of that parentage. out of which it is possible to select par­ Looking in the recent checklist ticularly garden-worthy forms for veg­ (Govaerts & Frodin, 1998), however, we etative propagation. For such variable see that Q. xambigua is regarded as a entities we should consider calling them synonym of Q. rubra and it would be not a cultivar but a Group. Thus any Q. understandable if the name of the tree robur form with cristate foliage can be was changed to Q. rubra. However, the referred to Q. robur Cristata Group. Dis­ tree could still be a hybrid between Q. tinct forms (such as 'Facrist', an upright coccinea and Q. rubra. The application selection) can be named as cultivars. of the name has changed, but the iden­ Changing to Group status, however, tity of the plant has not. should not be done lightly. Careful con­ Some believe that hybrids should be sideration must be given to the inten­ named solely with a statement of their tion of the original author of the name. parentage and not with a hybrid epithet. We cannot simply change a cultivar to a However, when a hybrid has several cul­ Group if it has been raised from seed as tivars, it is convenient to group them, as that would obviously detract from the is done with the forms of Q. xhispanica. intention of anyone who names what Personally, I prefer to use a hybrid epi­ may have been originally a very distinct thet if one is available, but would fonn. strongly recommend keeping a record of The Kassel meeting not only high­ the original suspected parentage. lighted the problems that hybrid oaks The naming of a cultivar has great ad­ cause, but showed the difficulty in iden­ vantages as it isolates one form that is tifying them, and there was often con­ propagated. However given the prob­ siderable discussion over each tree. At lems associated with grafting cultivars the moment we are lucky in that many of - time, expense and potential incom­ the old oak collections that have distrib­ patibility it is tempting for many to uted their seed still exist and it is often raise them from seed. While some come possible to go back to the parent plant more or less true, others will not; even and its neighbours to discover the true without the possibility of hybridisation identity of its offspring. with other species. However, there is no I am certainly not dissuading collec­ intention that nomenclature restricts in tors from raising oaks from garden seed. any way what is grown, only what the resulting plants are called. Any culti vars raised from seed, how- contd. on pg. 18

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 17 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 15

In fact, I positively encourage it. Not only tion beneath, the abnormalities probably can it produce interesting results, it caused by a virus. An occasional shoot shows the relationships between differ­ produced appeared to be typical Quercus ent species and, as long as adequate rubra and I originally considered nam­ records are kept, could help to determine ing this plant as a cultivar of that spe­ the identity of some of the hybrid oaks cies. However, our plant now show in cultivation. There still exist oaks in none of the distorted foliage, only that cultivation of doubtful parentage and resembling Q. rubra. There are two pos- duplicating the hybrid could give infor­ ibilities. Firstly the plant currently tnative results. I would certainly be inter­ grown is the same as the ori ginal thought ested in receiving seed of Q. rugosa Nee to be this hybrid, and secondly, a graft where it i growing (preferably as a single failed at some stage and the u nderstock plant) with Q. robur. Could this produce has been propagated. Whichever of Q. warburgii A. Camus? There are surely these is true, this plant should not be collections in South Africa or Australia, considered to belong to Q. x .fernaldii. maybe elsewhere, where these species And as its characteristics are not grow and fruit together. Perhaps some­ stable, it should not be regarded as a body has already raised such a plant. cultivar. As for the true Q. xfernaldii, I An example of a naming problem that have not yet seen it, but would be inter­ has arisen recently is the identity of a ested to hear from anyone who has a plant distributed from European nurser­ fruiting plant Q. ilicifolia growing ies as Quercus x jernaldii Trel. (Q. amongst Q. rubra. ilic~folia x Q. rubra). The plants I first saw under this name had curiously dis­ Reference totted foliage with rather deeply cut Govaerts, R. & Frodin, D.G. 1998. World leave and lobes ending in long, curved Checklist and Bibliography of Fagales. bristle tips. They were often puckered The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. and hard with a distinct reticulate vena-

Page 18 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

•

by Mel Knox Mel Knox Barrel Broker San Francisco, CA, USA

Editor:S Note: At The Second International Oak Conference in San Marino, California, Mel Knox, a barrel broker from that state, graciously agreed to host a wine-tasting session with a variety of wines 111atured in different types of oak barrels. He also gave us a delightful talk on where the oak comes jro1n to produce these barrels, ho\tv the barrels are actually made, and what the important properties of the vvood are that lends so much to the qualit) and character of the wine. Mel's talk is reprinted here.

ormally I give speeches about wine barrels to people who know a lot about wine, but not too much about oak. Perhaps today the opposite is true. But just as forest rangers and botanists have become successful wine­ makers, I imagine that many of you know which end of the bottle the cork comes out of. Until about 50 years ago wooden barrels were used to hold everything from salted fish to beer, wine and distilled spirits. Nowadays metal and plastic have replaced the wood barrel for nearly everything. When I tell people I sell batrels, they oftentimes tell me that their grandfather made barrels. However, it's a profession that has largely disappeared. The history ofbrurel making is somewhat shrouded in mystery.

contd. on pg. 14

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 19 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 19

The French like to say that the frrst use of statistics. True numbers are hard to come barrels took place in 51 BC when the Gauls by and are usually not that up-to-date. filled barrels with burning oil and hurled Large quantities of barrels are generated them at the Romans during the Battle of primarily in two places: France, and the Uxellodunum. So perhaps the wine Bourbon-producing part of the USA. By business is an example of turning swords law Bourbon whisky must be made in new, into plowshares. Probably the most famous freshly charred barrels, so usually cooper in American history was John somewhere around 800,000 to one million Alden, who delayed the departure of the of these "used" barrels are emptied every Mayflower when he refused their first offer. year and then sold on to customers in Spain, As some of the mechanical principles Scotland, Asia and North America. involved in cooperage are similar to those Around 300,000 French oak barrels are also used in shipbuilding, some people thinks made every year, primarily for wine and there is a connection between the two Cognac. The use of oak from Eastern crafts. Europe has been growing. Today, ban·els are primarily used in the booze business, mostly for wine, whisky Oaks Used for Barrels and brandy. Whereas wooden beer barrels As you all know, oaks are divided into used to be a big item, now you can count two main groups: the red oaks and the the number of breweries using wood white oaks. The wood from red oak leaks without taking your shoes off. Once all so will not be discussed further. Coopers sotts of hardwoods were used for barrels; divide the white oaks they use for barrels nowadays it's primarily oak because it has into two primary categories according to an excellent combination of flavor and the location where the trees are grown: the mechanical attributes. Chestnut, acacia American oaks and the European oaks. and other hardwoods have been used, but The primary American species is with these other woods, either the Quercus alba, also known as American astringent flavors have to be leached out white oal<. However, this general name is of the wood, or the insides of the barrels also applied to other American oak species, need to be coated. including Quercus bicolor, swamp white Numbers in the barrel business are not oak; Quercus lyrata, overcup oak; like those in the auto or electronics world Quercus durandii, Durand oak; Quercus where analysts have access to all sorts of michauxii, swamp chestnut oak; and

Page 20 No.1 0 I Spring 2000

• International Oaks

Quercus montana, chestnut oak. Some of more obvious flavor, vanillin in character, these species can hybridize with each other. and more aggressive tannins than the European species, often referred to as smoother, subtler oaks of Europe. French oaks, include Quercus petraea, also known as sessile oak or Que reus American Oaks - In 1987, according to sessiliflora, and Quercus robur, also called a report published by the U.S. Forest pedunculate or variously, English, French Service, there were 24,497 million cubic feet and Russian oak. of commercially important selected white The anatomy of different oaks has oaks in the eastern United States. Only a implications for barrel-making. A trunk can certain proportion of this would be suitable be thought of as a bundle of tubes or for cooperage, where the quality criteria vessels (xylem vessels) and fibers running are much higher than for pulp. Q. alba parallel to the trunk with groups of fibers grows in most of the eastern United States, called rays running radially from the and extends east from Minnesota, Iowa, outside towards the center of the trunk. Missouri, and Arkansas, north of Mexico, Oak is non-storied so the longitudinal and south of Canada and Maine. tubes and fibers overlap so as to give There is no general agreement as to strength. With soft woods like pines, on which American regions provide the best the other hand, the tubes and fibers are oak for wine or whiskey barrels. Some stacked so the wood is softer. Oak is also people feel that oak from Minnesota and ring-porous and there are distinct bands Wisconsin is best for wine barrels. Others of large and small tubes laid down at feel that wood from these regions is too different times of the year. tannic. Wood from the more southerly Oak as a species is also rich in tyloses, parts of the U.S. is condemned by some which are gummy structures that plug the for being too sappy. Oregon whlte oak, xylem vessels. This is what makes the wood Quercus garryana, has also been used particularly good for holding liquids, as experimentally for wine barrels. This tree the path of the liquid through the wood is grows about 50 to 90 feet tall, and around blocked by these tyloses. The American 24 to 40 inches in diameter. There are white oaks are the richest in these tyloses, approximately 6,000 million cubic feet of which is why the barrel staves can be various species of oak in California, Oregon quarter- sawn without risk of leakage. With and Washington. But other than Oregon European oaks there are fewer tyloses so white oak, little is suitable for barrels. the wood is more porous and must be split Oregon, or garry, oak has more tyloses than to follow the tubes and then bent so that European oak, but not as much as all the tubes are parallel to the stave, which American white oak. American oak is used helps minimize leakage. American oak also widely by both makers of distilled spirits tends to be seasoned more crudely than European oak. American oak has a much contd. on pg . 22

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 21 International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 21

and wine in Spain, America, Asia, South distinguished only by examination of I America and Australia. leave and acorns. The acorn of Q. robur Western European Oaks - Oaks grow is attached via a long peduncle whereas throughout Europe, as far east as the Urals, that of sessile oak is attached directly to as far south as Sicily, as far west as Ireland, the twig. However, there is much cross­ France, and Pottugal, and as far north as fertilization between these two species so southern Norway. Q. petraea, or sessile hybrids are common. oak, can reach aheightof25 m and can live Coopers do not usually distinguish the over 300 years. Branches form high up on two species in their workshops. Like wine­ the relatively straight trunk. Wood from makers, they tend to pay more attention to this tree is usually tight-grained. This forest location and grain size than to oak species grows patticularly well in sandy, specie• s. ilty soil with good drainage, but also grows Eastern European and Soviet Oaks - well in a variety of other soil types. In Historically, the forests of eastern Europe Europe it is found throughout the United were important sources of oak, mainly Q. Kingdom, from France east to Poland and robur and Q. petraea. Before the second the Baltic States and as far south as Italy world war Polish, Russian and Baltic oaks and Yugoslavia. were impottant in both the beer and wine Q. robur, known as English or French indu s u~ie s and coopers have been scouting oak, also grows to over 25 m in height and east keenly in search of good quality wood can live over 300 years. Its branches spread that can be bought more cheaply than out to provide more shade than se sile oak French oak. Political changes in Eastern and it tends to produce wide-grained Europe in the late 1980s immediately wood. It prefers fertile soils where there is resulted in Hungarian and Moravian oak plenty of water. As Q. robur tolerates a being offered to wine-makers in the west. wider range of growing conditions, it is There is plenty of oak in Eastern Europe, more widespread in Europe than essile but many questions remain, such as how

oak. It extends further north into the much of this wood is suitable for barrels? • Scandinavian countiies, further south into And how do the newly freed countries of Turkey, Georgia and Po1tugal, and east as Eastern Europe want to manage their far as the Urals. Wood from this species forests? According to research done by • tends to have wider grains than sessile oak, Backman and Waggener of the University although the two species can be positively ofWashington (USA) in 1988, the erstwhile

Page 22 . No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

Quercus alba 'rvood seclion, showing vigorous annual growth rings (g rowth direction is f rom left to right in this photograph). Darker wood is porous spring wood; lighter wood is denset; summer wood.

Soviet Union had approxitnately 9.7 million oak growing in Russia according to hectares of oak, of which around 3. I 1nillion Soviet statistics is copse-wood fit only are located in the far eastern region, close for making fires. to the Pacific Ocean. This is Quercus French Oaks and Oak Growing mongolica, not a species used for Regions - Although Baltic and Slovenian cooperage. About 1.7 million hectares are oak was important in the 19th century, in the Ukraine and is said to add up to today French oak has become the standard around 233 million cubic meters. Most of by which all other oaks are judged. Thanks the balance, i.e. close to 4.7 million hectares to sound forestry management, French oak with 763 million cubic meters of oak, is in is available in viable commercial quantities European Russia. and can add to wine flavors that appeal to Although in the 19th century Baltic oaks modern consumers. Almost a quarter of were prized by the French and British, it France, or nearly 14 million hectares, is seems likely that very little oak suitable for forest, constituting more than 40 per cent cooperage is left in Lithuania, Latvia and of all forest in the European Community. Estonia. In the 1980s the then Soviet Union About one third of this forestland supports exchanged trade credits for thousands of oak. oak barrels from cooperages in Cognac for There are 2 600,000 hectares of Q. use in its brandy industry. petraea and Q. robur, the two species of This suggests that throughout much of oak of interest to the cooper, of which at the 20th century Soviet forestry least 2,000,000 hectares are located in the management may have been less than perfect. It is possible that much of the million hectares of 'tnature and fully mature' contd. on pg. 24

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 23 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 23 regions discussed below. It was estimated forest where he ordered oak trees to be re­ in 1986 that there were 4 30 million cubic planted for use in shipbuilding. meters of European oak growing in France. The French L'Office Nationale des In 1987, for example, 1.76 million cubic Forets (ONF) stages auctions during the meters of oak were harvested, of which fall. As the ONF controls most of the oak between seven and ten per cent was used forests with the kind of trees capable of by the cooperage business. providing stave quality wood, this Since 1947 around two million hectares governmental body can control prices and of land in France have been re-forested. usually does so by limiting the amount of Unlike some other countries, where ancient wood put on the market. stands of hemlock, spruce and fir have Oak logs from many different forests in been cut down to make toilet paper and France are used to make barrels. As there diapers, France has done a good job of is no control over the use of regional managing its forests since World War II. names, the outsider can get confused quite Supplies of French oak batTing unusual easily. Limousin usually refers to forests circumstances such as dramatic climate east of Bordeaux and Cognac where Q. change should remain abundant. robur dominates. Wide grained wood - Silviculture is actively practiced in France primarily used for brandy is found here. so that trees in government -owned forests Vosges wood is found in the mountain are not allowed to grow wild, but are range of the same name in northeastern carefully managed to yield suitable wood, France. Wood character varies according just like any other crop, albeit one that can to soil and climate. Allier, Nevers, take two centuries or more to mature. In Burgundy, and Center refers to trees found France, for every cubic meter of oak (and I am simplifying here) near Orleans, harvested in a year, three grow. Can we Moulins, Dijon, etc. Below are descriptions say the same thing in America? of each of the primary oak-growing regions Concern about the condition of the in France and the wood grown there. French forests dates back to at least 1291 , when scholars note the mention of 'maistre Western Loire and Sarthe - Woods from des forets' in the Royal Ordinances. The forests in the western Loire, from the most famous of these Ordinances was Departements Indre, Cher and Indre-et­ written during the regime of Colbert in 1669. Loire, and in the Sarthe near Le Mans, have Colbert is commemorated in the Troncais tight grains and are highly prized. International Oaks

or "white" color. However, the character Limousin - Woods from the following of Vosges woods varies according to the regions in France are usually called altitude of the stand. Limousin: the eastern part of the DepartementDeux-Sevres, Vienne, Hautes Jura and Bourgogne - Just to the east of de Vienne, the northern part of the Correze, Burgundy are forests that traditionally the Creuze, the eastern part of the supplied Burgundy with oak. These forests Charente, the southern part of the Indre, are still important and supply oak to and the northern part of the Dordogne. Burgundian cooperages. Soils here tend to be clay /limestone or granite. These woods are more tannic than Argonne - Located near Champagne, this the tight -grained woods. forest provides a small amount of oak for the cooperage business, principally for Nievre and Allier- Woods from these two those few champagne producers who still central departements just south of ferment in barrels. Sometimes the wood is Sancerre go by many names. Sometimes sold as Vosges. this wood is sold under the name of the specific forest. Troncais, for example, is a Nomenclature and Chemical Properties government-owned forest north of of Wood Moulins, while Bertranges is a forest near There is much confusion about Nevers. This oak may also be sold under nomenclature in the world of oaks. This the name of the region, such as Allier and means not only that wine-makers are Nevers. To many French wine-makers, suspicious about proclaimed wood however, all of this wood is regarded simply origins, but that people use different as "bois de centre," wood from the center definitions for the same name. Some would of France. However these forests are include wood from the western Loire in named, the wood is usually tight -grained the category of 'bois de centre' while and is popular for both brandy and wine. others would exclude anything but Nevers Soil here tends to silica and clay. As stands and Allier. Others will classify wood are planted with close spacing, the trees around Nevers with wood from the Yonne are said to grow up, rather than out; hence and Cote d' Or as "Bourgogne." the tighter grains. According to the L'Office Nationale des Forets, the five most important regions for Vosges - Wood from the Vosges forests oak were, as of 1987, Bourgogne (Cote west of Alsace became popular with wine­ d'Or, Nievre, Saone-et-Loire, and Yonne); makers in the early 1980s. This wood is Lorraine (Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, usually tight-grained and resembles the Moselle, Vosges); Centre (Eure-et-Loire, oak from Nievre and Allier. Oak experts say they can identify this wood by its "clear" contd. on pg. 26

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 25 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 25

Loiret, Loire-et-Cher, In eire, Cher, Indre-et­ "oakiness," described as coconut-like. Loire); Champagne (Ardennes-Marne­ Toasting of the wood increases this flavor, Aube-Haute-Mame) and Franche-Comte to a point. Open-air seasoning of the staves (Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saone, Ten·itoire de prior to manufacture generally decreases Belfort). The depattements producing the the lactones. These compounds can easily most oak were, in order of importance, overpower a wine's inherent aroma. Haute-Saone, Nievre, Yonne, Cote d'Or, Haute-Marne, Dordogne, Cher, Allier, Phenolic aldehydes - Vanillin is the best Moselle, Saone-et-Loire, Loire-et-Cher, known member of this group. Toasting 1' Orne, 1'E ure, and la Sarthe. increases the level of these, as does The chemistry of wine maturation in seasoning in the open air. Barrel wood is still not fully understood. fermentation reduces their level. Experience shows that wood (unlike amphorae and sealed vats made of inert Volatile phenols - These impart a spice­ materials) inevitably exposes the wine to a like character that is often described as certain amount of oxygen and actively clove or carnation. These decrease with helps to clarify and stabilize the wine seasoning of the oak. matured in it; quite apart from the wide range of flavors and characteristics added Terpenes - These essential oils important and transformed as a result of exposure to • in fruit, tea and perfume are fo und in that particulru· wood. The wood in which a American oak and, to a lesser degree, in wine is fermented and/or aged has a some French oak. It is likely, but as yet profound and often complex effect on its unproven, that they have flavor effects. flavor. Certain substances present in wood This was a particularly active area of wine may be directly extracted and absorbed, reseru·ch in the early 1990s. without change, into the wine however. Those extractable substances identified in Carbohydrate degradation products - the most commonly used wood, are listed This is a large and complex group that below. includes furfurals, which are produced from toasting wood sugru·s, and have a

Lactones -not a singing group - These bitter almond flavor. Maltol and cyclotene ' compound are responsible for what is also are produced from the toasting genera]] y called the aroma of oak, or process and have not only caramel-like

Page 26 No.lO I Spring 2000

• International Oaks flavors of their own, but also act as flavor but working quickly. potentiators. Like monosodium glutamate European oak could well leak if thus with food, these potentiators increase the sawed, however, and staves have to be perception of other flavors. split much more carefully following the grain to minimize the risk of leakage. Tannins and other phenolics -These give European oak was therefore traditionally color and astringency but, more split by hand so that the ax blade could importantly, act as a reservoir to balance follow the grain. Nowadays mechanically the oxidative/reductive reactions of the operated axes are guided through the wood wine, protecting it from oxidation and sections and the resulting staves trimmed. lessening the chance of unpleasant reductive aromas. Drying Wood: Air vs. Kiln - After the wood has been split or sawed, it must be Barrel Manufacturing dried. Otherwise the wood continues to Barrel manufacture involves far more dry and wine may leak out of the barrel as than mere mechanics and the ability to it shrinks. The drying process can be fashion a watertight container out of achieved either naturally in the open air or nothing but bent wood. Every stage of artificially using kilns. French oak has barrel manufacture has an impact on wine traditionally been air-dried one year for matured in that ban·el. First the tree is cut every 10 mm in width, so that it takes down, usually during the aututnn or winter between 18 and 36 months to "season" when the sap is down. wood. It is dried in stacks of potential staves in the open, preferably on a site far Cutting wood: Sawing vs. Splitting- Logs from any industiial activity or any other of appropriate lengths are cut and then source of pollution. This ties up so much split into four quarters lengthwise. The bark capital for so long, however, that many and sapwood are cut off so that staves cooperages have been forced to substitute may be cut from transversal (rather than artificial drying techniques, which tangential) sections of wood. generally take no more than 12 months. Because American oak is so much less Many quality-conscious wine-makers porous than European, the logs can be will pay a premium for wood dried in the quartered and then staves of American oak open air, however. First, it is felt that kiln­ can simply be sawed from each quarter. In dried wood does not dry properly and that other words, the quartered bolts are placed the bruTe I made from these staves will leak on a conveyor belt and a saw parallel to more than those made from naturally the conveyor trims off a potential stave. seasoned staves. Second, natural drying Then the remainder of the bolt is flipped over and another cut is made. The worker does not have to concentrate on anything contd. on pg. 28 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 27 tends to reduce the stable extractable properly, the result will be a barrel. All compounds of the wood while edges will meet properly and the barrel will heightening its aromatic potential. hold liquid without any agent other than Traditional lore holds that as wood is the hoops which hold the staves together. seasoned outdoors and turns gray, First, the staves are sized and trimmed darkening the ground beneath it, harsh into oblong lengths that might be called a tannins are being leeched out of the wood. double taper. Traditionally this work, known Wine matured in air-dried wood tends to as 'dressing' the staves, was done by hand. taste less aggressively tannic than the The stave was 'listed.' Listing means to give same wine matured in kiln-dried wood. the double taper shape with a cooper's ax, Recent research indicates that tannin levels known as a doloire in French. Then, the do not change significantly in air-dried inside of the stave was 'scalloped' with a wood, although the threshold of two handled hollowing knife to allow for sensitivity to tannin does rise, according easier bending. Finally the staves were to Australian research. French research joined on a jointer, known as a colombe. indicates that molds and enzymes form on Here the staves were given their fmal shape and in the wood. Bitter phenolics are - rounded at the bilge (the middle) and neutralized and polysaccharides are narrowed at the heads (the ends) giving liberated. Some cooperages maintain that the barrel its proper shape. Nowadays most it is not the duration of the air-drying of this work is done with machines, even in process that is important, but the wood's France, at great savings of time and energy. exposure to rain and the temperature at Finally, the cooper fits the staves in a which the wood is dried. Their wood may frame so that each barrel will have the same therefore be watered to simulate rain, but circumference. An especially strong and there has been little scientific analysis of wide stave is chosen for the stave into which results of this practice. the bunghole will eventually be drilled. Then he arranges these staves ar~und an iron Assembling 'raising up' hoop, the result looking like a After the staves have been deemed dry skirt or a teepee splayed out from the hoop enough, they can be assembled into at the top. This job calls for great manual barrels. Barrel-making is made possible by dexterity. In many American cooperages the fact that wood can be bent when it has machines can do much of this work. been heated. If the staves are shaped

Page 28 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

Shaping and Toast Research has shown that the heating These wine-makers feel that any extra effort process is one of the 1nost important in in barrel maintenance is justified by the barrel manufacture, modifying the wood's special flavor provided by this technique. I I physical and chemical composition and The amount of time the barrel sits on the profoundly influencing any wine stored fire and the heat of the fire both have

' l in the barrel. Various sources of heat can dramatic impacts on the appearance of the be used to shape the barrel: natural gas, barrel's interior and on the resultant wine steam and boiling water, or the fire of wood flavor. Nowadays wine-makers can order chips. Some cooperages combine barrels 'toasted' to order. Some cooperages techniques and shape the barrel with the will use an electric ambient heater or a wood aid of boiling water or steam, then fmish frre to 'toast' the heads too, although these the barrel with a fire toasting. are usually left untoasted. The spectacle of the fire and the coopers knocking down the hoops and The Heads bending the barrels is exciting. A high After the body of the barrel has been degree of coordination is required. The formed, then the heads, or barrel-ends, must would-be barrel is rolled over a cylindrical be made and fitted. Five or six head staves vented metal firepot, known as a are fitted together with wooden dowels or chaufferette in which small oak chips are stainless steel gudgeons (headless nails). burned. The coopers walk round the barrel Reeds are placed between the head staves knocking down the temporary iron hoops. to prevent leaking. Then the head is cut to Each cooper pounds his hammer on a size, usually slightly oval in shape. Near hoop driver a short block of wood with each end of the body of the barrel, a groove, a flat metal end while slapping a wet rag called the croze, is cut into the inside of the on the wood to keep it from getting too barrel. The head is cut at the edges so that toasted too quickly. After the top of the it will fit into the croze. barrel has been shaped, the coopers wrap Formerly, all of this work was done by cables around the base of the barrel and hand, but now virtually all of it is done on use a capstan to cinch up the base. Natural machines which have replaced an array of gas, boiling water and steam will heat the traditional cooper's tools with names (adze, wood effectively and allow the cooper to chiv, etc.) to delight the dedicated Scrabble bend the staves without creating blisters player. Finally the head is fit into the barrel. on their insides. Many wine-makers prefer To do this, the hoops are loosened and this technique as the barrel is easier to the head is inserted into the croze. Usually clean. Other wine-makers prefer barrels a flour paste is used to help prevent leaks shaped over a frre of wood chips, as the between the head and the croze. Now it is 'toast' on the inside of the barrel provides ready to be filled with precious liquids. an interesting 'toasty' flavor to the wine.

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 29 International Oaks

I

by Fernando Zavala-Chavez Chapingo, Estado de Mexico, MEXICO

Abstract Quercus pachucana F. Zavala-Chavez, a species of red oak (Quercus, subgenus Quercus, section Lobatae) belonging to the series Mexicanae from near Presa Jaramillo, Municipio of Pachuca in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, is described here as new to sci• ence.

uring fieldwork to study oaks from Parque Nacional El Chico, Hidalgo, Mexico (Zavala, 1995), we found some indi victuals similar to Quercus 1nexicana Humb. & Bon pi. that had some peculiar morphological characteristics on their leaves. The margins of the mature leaves had one to four aristate teeth on each side of the blade. The pubescence on the lower surface and petioles was more persistent, which is not characteristic of Q. mexicana, according to descriptions of this species by several authors (Trelease, 1924; Martinez, 1953; Me Vaugh, 1974; Espinosa, 1979; Valdez and Aguilar, 1983; Vazquez, 1992; Zavala, 1995). In those descriptions, Q. • mexicana leaves have entire tnargins, suggesting that this particular character is constant in this species. No author • mentions toothed leaves, proposed here as a characteristic that could have recently appeared on individuals from the Parque Nacional El Chico.

Page 30 ~ No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

In this note we propose that the presence of ari tate teeth, together with the persistent pubescence on the lower leaf-surface and the straight margin of the cup, are taxonomic characteristics which the currently recognized species of the series Mexicanae (Trelease, 1924) do not have . Therefore, those characteristics are sufficient to distinguish these individuals as comprising a separate species of Quercus, section Lobatae (red oaks), N (\) series Mexicanae, as new to science. > ...c0 \...) I 0 -0 Quercus pachucana F. Zavala-Chavez, > 0 sp. nov. N -o0 c Arbor 4-6.5 m alti, ran1uli juniores rubris c0 L (\) pardi vel atropardus ad secundus.annus, lL > .0 dense et subtiliter stellato tomentulosi 0 +- ...c0 cum aliquae pilus simplex; folia coriacea 0.

vel leviter ita, viridis et leviter vividus, Quercus pachucana seen growing in Hidalgo, Mexico. caducae, elliptica oblongae, lanceolata vel oblanceolata, 3.5-8 em longae, 1.3- thick at breast height, sometimes shrub­ 3 em lata, apice acutus vel obtusus, like and branched from the base; bark interdum rotundatus, plerumque brevis grayish, dark gray or nearly black, in aristato, basi angusto, rotundata vel irregular small thick and some concave subcordata; marginem planum vel non plates, typically without becoming scaly. nisi leviter undulata vel leviter revolutus Buds 2-3.5 mm long, somewhat acute or et cartilagineus, cum 1-4 dentes in with the apex finely rounded; branchlets quoque latus et praecipue in dimidio reddish brown to dark brown in the distalis e lamina, plerumque 1-2, breviter second year, 1-1.5 mm thick, densely and aristato, vix sinuato vel conspicue finely stellate-tomentulose, with some prominens et prolongata, cun1 aristae imple hairs, the tomentum persisting in ascendens; glans biannua, cupula the second season when at least some fructifera hemisphaericae, cupuliformis, hairs remain scattered, some pale cum rectus marginem, nux ovata vel 1enticels somewhat evident. Stipules 4-5 elliptica, interdum subesphaericae, 113 mm long, linear, membranous, deciduous inclusa. Small tree4-6.5 m high, trunk 12-25 em contd. on pg. 32

No. 10 I Spring 2000 _ Page 31 •

International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 31

when the leaves are nearly fully grown. shaped and margins slightly folded to Young leaves shortly and uniformly the lower leaf-surface but not rolled. pubescent, with hairs that do not Veins 6-9 on each side, commonly 7-8, completely hide the epidermis, dark ascending, branched and anastomosing green above. Mature leaves coriaceous before the margins, the larger ones or slightly so, green and slightly glossy, prolonged into the aristae. Lower leaf­ deciduous in winter-spring, mainly surface opaque, green or grayish green, elliptic, oblong, lanceolate or smooth except in the areas where the oblanceolate, 3.5-8 em long, 1.5-3 em primary veins are slightly impressed and wide, 2-4 times as long as wide; acute, pale, pubescence stellate and uniformly subacute or obtuse at the apex, persistent nearly to the base of the blade sometimes rounded, commonly shortly and midvein; lower leaf-surface aristate; base mainly narrow, rounded or yellowish pubescent, somewhat bullate, subcordate, usually with one side lower the bulles visible with a magnifying than the other one. Margins flat or glass (2 x) and if the hairs are removed, slightly undulate or revolute and the primary veins are seen to be slightly cartilaginous, with 1-4 teeth, usually with raised. Most hairs stellate and persistent, 1-2 on each side on the distal half of the some easily rubbed off. Mid vein more blade. Slightly evident or raised and densely hairy with some simple hairs. conspicuously prolonged into aristae Petioles reddish brown, darkened with 0.5-2.5 mm long, ascending, sinus u- hairs, 2.5-8 mrn long, 1.5-2 mm wide near the base, persistently stellate tomentulose. Acorns biennial, mostly solitary or paired, sometimes in threes, sessile or on a peduncle 3-5 mm long and 1-1.5 mm thick; cup hemispheric or deeper, with margin upright, 0.8-1 em wide, 0.3-0.5 em deep, scales reddish brown or yellowish brown, tightly imbricated, canescent, plane, margins ciliate, apex blunt or nearly rounded, nut Paratype (left, larger leaves) and isotype (right, smaller leaves) specimens of Quercus pachucana, a 1-1.3 em long, 0.8-1 em wide, ovoid or newly described species of oak f rom Mexico. elliptic, usually hemispheric, brown or

Page 32 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

I• ) I ,, \

2 em

. . -......

N ~ > ...c0 ~ I -0 ~ 0 lcm N 0 "'0c 0 c t.. ~ lL £ 0"1 c ·-3: 0 t.. ~------~ "'0 Figure 1. Foliage, buds and fruits of Quercus pachucana j r01n Hidalgo, Mexico.

yellowish brown when mature, about 1/ can be found at 2800 to 2900 m elevation, 3 included; flowering in January to on the Sierra de Pachuca, close to Presa March, fruits maturing in August to Jaramillo, belonging to El Cerezo, November. Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Q. pachucana appears to form hybrids with Trees of this species grow in oak Q. mexicana, because some herbarium forests, romerillo (Pseudotsuga specimens have leaves with one or two macrolepis )-oak forests and fir (Abies aristate teeth, but the majority of the re ligiosa )-oak forests, with Q. leaves are entire. With respect to this, ! deserticola, Pinus rudis, Q. crassifolia Vazquez (1992) mentions the presence and Q. mexicana in the first; Q. of leaves of Q. mexicana with one or 1 mexicana, Q. rugosa, Pseudotsuga two aristate teeth, but the majority of macrolepis and Q. laurina in the second; and with A. religiosa, Pinus rudis, Q. contd. on pg. 34 laurina and Q. rugosa in the last. They

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 33

I International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 33

leaves are entire. Hidalgo, within the Municipio Pachuca. Holotype: Hidalgo, Mpio. Pachuca, The name of this species is derived from near Pres a Jaramillo, north of the town the Municipio in which it was found, of El Cerezo, in oak forest with although the same name also applies to Pseoudotsuga macrolepis, Q. laurina the mountain system where the site is and Q. rugosa, at 2810 m elevation and located. northeast aspect, 31/August/1990, Fdo. Trelease (1924) and Martinez ( 1953) refer Zavala-Ch. 1020. (Herbarium CHAP, to Q. mexicana as the typical species of Isotypes: to be distributed). the series Mexicanae Trel., with groups of Paratype: Hidalgo, Mpio. Pachuca, 500 trees of middling size with slende,r m east from Pres a Jaramillo, near El tomentose branchlets and usually Cerezo, in oak forest with Pseudotsuga glabrescent, ovoid buds. Leaves are small macrolepis, at 2800 m elevation and to medium in size and generally lanceolate southwest aspect, 16/March/ 1990, Fdo. or oblong, short petiolate, chiefly entire, Zavala-Ch. 987. (Herbarium CHAP) tomentose, although glabrescent or Additional specimens examined: glabrate on the blistered lower surface. Hidalgo state, Mpio. Epazoyucan, M. Fruits are biennial and medium-sized, Medina-Cota 2546 (CHAP), place El shortly pedunculate, cup scales adpressed, Guajolote; Coahuila state, Mpio. Saltillo, canescent and with obtuse apex. 1. A. Villarreal and A. Carranza 4232, The series Mexicanae includes eight located some 20 km north of Saltillo, species and seven taxonomic forms from National Board number 57 (CHAPA). The the Mexican Plateau (Trelease, 1924), of specimens examined from both localities which only Q. axillaris Fournier and Q. were identified as Q. mexicana and they subscrispata Trel. have leaves with short had some leaves with one or two little aristate teeth. But they are characterized and short subapical aristate teeth. by leaves soon glabrescent, veins little However, they were immature and do not impressed and annual fruits. This differs correspond to Q. pachucana, because from Q. pachucana which has leaves with the majority of their leaves are entire. persistent pubescence in the second Perhaps they are hybrids between Q. season or later, veins normally impressed pachucana and Q. mexicana. and, particularly, biennial fruits. Moreover, The new species Q. pachucana is Q. axillaris and Q. subscrispata are known at the present time only from nowadays considered as synonyms of Q.

Page 34 · No.1 0 I Spring 2000 • '

International Oaks

castanea Nee (Muller and Me Vaugh, 1972; Acknowledgements McVaugh, 1974; Zavala, 1995), which is Thanks to the Universidad Aut6noma placed in a different series ( Castaneae) by Chapingo for the help received by means Trelease (1924). of projects 8901011 (1989), 9201019 (1992), • I Q. pachucana differs from Q. mexicana, and4901005 (1994). Q. imbricariifolia Trel., Q. colimae Trel., { Q. crassipes, Q. malifolia Trel. and Q. Literature Cited I obovalifolia Fournier (mentioned by 1. Espinosa de G. R., J. 1979. Fagaceae Trelease, 1924) in having dentate leaves, (Quercus). In: Rzedowski, J. and G. C. de while those species possess entire leaves. Rzedowski (eds.). Vol. I, Flora Furthermore, of those species only Q. fanerogamica del Valle de Mexico. CECSA. Mexico, D. F. (p. 112). mexicana and Q. crassipes (and now Q. 2. Martinez, M. 1953. Los encinos de pachucana) are accepted at the present Mexico III. An. Inst. Biol. Mex. XXIV time and the remainder are synonyms of (2): 237-271. Q. crassipes (Muller and Me Vaugh, 1972; 3. MeVaugh , R. 197 4. Flora Novo-Galiciana Me Vaugh, 1974; Zavala, 1995). (Fagaceae, Quercus). Contr. Univ. Mich. Quercus pachucana can be easily Herb. 12, Part I (3): 1-93. distinguished from the other species of the 4. Muller, C. H. and R. MeVaugh. 1972. The series Mexicanae with the help of the oaks (Quercus) described by Nee (1801) following key: and by Humboldt & Bonpland ( 1809), with comments on related species. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 9 (7): 507-522 (p. 518). 1. Margin of the leaves entire, with or 5. Trelease, W. 1924. The American oaks. without aristate apex. Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci. 20: 1-255 (p. 73 , a. Leaves generally plane and more or plates 345-347). less thin, primary veins ascending; margin 6. Valdez T., V. and M. L. Aguilar E. 1983. El of the cups of the acorns straight Q. genero Quercus en las unidades mexLcana• fisiognifico-florfsticas del tnunicipio de b. Leaves commonly revolute and more Santiago, N. L., Mexico. Bol. Tee. Inst. or less coriaceous, primary veins near Nac. Invest For. Mexico 98: 1-94 (pp. 51- 52). parallel or not clearly ascending; margin 7. Vazquez V., Ma. L. 1992. El genera of the cups of the acorns involute or at Quercus (Fagaceae) en el estado de Puebla, least thickened Q. crassipes Mexico. Tesis Profesional. Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico, ENEP­

I 2. Margin of the leaves dentate-aristate, Zaragosa. Mexico, D. F. pp. 157-159. \ particularly on the distal portion of the 8. Zavala Ch., F. 1995. Encinos hidalguenses. blade and often nearly to the apex; margin Direcci6n de Difusi6n Cultural, of the cups of the acorns straight Q. Universidad Aut6noma Chapingo. pachucana Chapingo, Mexico; pp. 102-103.

No.lO I Spring 2000 · Page 35 International Oaks

••

•

by Nina L. Bassuk, Program Leader Urban Horticulture Institue Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA

arely has there been a tree so worthy of vegetative propagation, yet one so stubbornly difficult to achieve it with, as the oak. In their large native ranges, oaks display considerable variability that is of great interest to the horticulturist and nursery professional. Variation in growth rate, leaf color, branching habit, stature; tolerance of droughty, wet, high and low PH soils; and ease of transplanting are just some of the characteristics noted by oak enthusiasts. To whet the appetite further, oaks are notoriously interfertile within their black and white oak subgenera, giving rise to numerous purported hybrids that exhibit still greater variation in growth habit and environmental tolerance. All this has not gone unnoticed by propagators who have tded many techniques over the years to produce superior clonal selections. For 1nost other shade trees, the various arts of budding and grafting have served well to produce desirable, clonal scions on seedling rootstocks. This has proven more difficult with oaks, with some success coming in the white oak group, most notably with Quercus robur variants.

Stool-bed layering We have chosen to investigate the potential of clonally propagating oaks on their own roots, from cuttings or stool beds, because much of the desirable part of the plant resides

Page 36 No. 10 I Spring 2000 •

International Oaks

underground. We are not the first to try Our modified approach this. There are numerous published re­ Stock plants are planted into three- to ports on oak vegetative propagation; five-gallon containers. If we start with the most successful share the convic­ an older (5-year-old) plant we put it di­ I tion that stock-plantjuvenility is the key rectly into the larger container. Anec­ to success. It is not difficult to propa­ dotally, we have noticed that young gate cuttings taken from one- or even stool beds may produce some rooted two-year old seedlings; however, with shoots; however, as the stool-bed stock the odd exception, rooting percentages plants age in the field, rooting percent­ generally fall through the floor after that. ages fall off. We haven't seen this same Having gone that route, we changed effect with stool beds grown in contain­ course in order to bring to bear another ers. We hypothesize that root restric­ powerful tool in inducing juvenility- that tion is helping to increase rooting in the of stool-bed layering. stool-bed shoots. This is plausible be­ With this ancient technique, seedlings cause we know that the production of are allowed to grow for several years, cytokinins, a growth hormone, is re­ perhaps three to five, and then prior to duced when root growth is restricted. It bud break in spring, they are cut back to is well documented that cytokinins in­ ground level, leaving an inch or so of hibit adventitious root growth on stems. stem attached to the root system. This This theory will be tested in the coming is the same technique used in creating a year. coppice where many buds form on the After our dormant stock plants are cutback stub, giving rise to numerous potted up just prior to budbreak, we cut vigorous shoots on the mother plant. In them back just as we would do to a field­ the traditional stool-bed method, as grown plant. We watch to see the buds these shoots grow, soil is gradually form on the cutback stem and here we mounded up around the shoots cover­ begin manipulating the environment still ing their bases about a third to half way more. Just as the buds begin to swell we up the stems. The mounds are kept moist place the stock plants under black -cloth through the summer and by the fall many tents in a greenhouse to promote etiola­ of the shoots will have rooted into the tion, allowing the buds to grow out in soil mounds. When dormant, these near darkness (about 98 percent light ex­ rooted shoots are then undercut and clusion). It is important to prevent the planted out, leaving a newly cut-back shaded plants from "cooking" under the mother plant to repeat the process the black cloth, so white plastic is draped next year. This traditional method has over the black cloth and fans placed in­ proved occasionally successful with side the tents which serve to keep the oaks, leading us to modify the proce­ dure in the following ways. contd. on pg. 38

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 37 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 37

air temperature only a few degrees hormone treatment. warmer than the temperature outside the tents. The shoots grow quickly and look Experimental variables characteristically etiolated (no chloro­ We are in the midst of a very exten­ phy11, long internodes, underdeveloped sive experiment using the following oak leaves). When the shoots get to be 7-15 species: Quercus bicolor, Q. inches long, we paint their bases with macrocarpa, Q. palustris, Q. 8000 indole butyric acid (IBA) dissolved accutissima, Q. robur, Q. muhlenbergii, in 20 percent aqueous DMSO solution, Q. rubra, Q. alba and Q. coccinea. Some and are careful not to get the solution of the variations to the general method I onto the growing tips. We place a bot­ described above include the use of dif­ tomless pot, which is slightly smaller ferent light sources with and without than the stockplant container, over the previous etiolation. One of the theories shoots allowing it to rest on the soil sur­ of why etiolation is so powerful is that it face of the potted stock plant. After the prevents red light from changing physi­ IBA dries, a light soilless mix of peat and ological factors in the plant which in­ perlite is added to the shoots contained hibit rooting through its action on a pig­ within this "chimney" pot. Moist soil is ment called phytochrome. The action of added about half way up the stems, leav­ red light or far-red light changes the phy­ ing the growing points exposed. The tochrome pigment in ways that trigger black cloth is gradually taken away over different physiological processes. the period of one week to allow for accli­ When red light (present in sunlight) falls mation of the etiolated shoots to the onto the plant, many of what we think of light. The shoots green up and begin to as normal growth responses take place. look more like normal oaks very quickly. In the dark or in far-red light, the phyto­ At this point our job is to keep the soil chrome pigment is changed to produce moist and replenish it in the chimney other growth responses - similar to what should the shoots grow much more. we see in etiolated plants (long intern­ This year we have begun to check on odes, lighter colored leaves). We have when rooting begins by removing the just begun investigating whether far-red chimneys and letting the soil fall away. light can substitute for the etiolation ef­ To our surprise we have seen significant fect or add to it. Some of last year's pre­ root growth as early as two weeks after liminary results are intriguing. All shoots International Oaks

in these trials received 8000 IBA. The dent that this year's more extensive ex­ only other variables were light quality periments where we are repeating all the and whether shoots were exposed to the treatment differences with many species etiolation treatment beforehand. and with greater numbers of plants will I As can be seen in the chart below, reveal whether we are solidly on the right growing the stool-bed shoots in white track. Undoubtedly, it will also raise new l light alone is very inhibiting to rooting. questions as well. I hope to present the \ The results with Q. palustris are intrigu­ results of the experiments that are just ing in that it appeared that far-red light, underway now at the Third International even in the absence of prior etiolation, Oak Conference in North Carolina in helped to stimulate rooting. I am confi- 2000. See you there!

Table 1. Rooting of stool sprouts by oak species for different treatments. % Rooted Stool Species Treatments

Q. accutissima White light only 4 Etiolation plus far-red 78

Q. palustris White light only 5 White light plus far-red 42 Etiolation 25 Etiolation plus far-red 46

Q. bicolor White light only 0 Etiolation 52

Q. macrocarpa White light only 0 Etiolation 35

Q. alba White light only 0 Etiolation plus far-red 40

Q. rubra White light only 0 Etiolation 43

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 Page 39 International Oaks

• • aeter OD D

by Wayne Erickson British Columbia, CANADA

arry oak (Quercus garryana), also known as Oregon white oak, is a western North American representa­ tive of the white oak group (Section Quercus, for­ merly Leucobalanus ). It is winter-deciduous with a limited ad­ aptation to cold, has strong complex wood, leaves with mul­ tiple lobes, and deeply furrowed bark and acorns which ma­ ture in one year. In Canada, Garry oak is found only in the province of British • Columbia (B.C.), where it is the only native oak. With one ex- ception, other Canadian oaks are primarily eastern. Communi­ ties of Garry oak are limited in their distribution in Canada; in fact they are as yet unrecognized in a national classification. This may be due in part to biogeographic affinities that are southern rather than eastern. Garry oak communities occur in B.C. as the northern extension of their Pacific Northwest distri­ bution and are valued locally for conservation purposes. Garry oak is not really a forest tree. Instead, like many oaks around the world, its niche is the interface between open grass­ lands or shrub chaparral and conifer forest. In B.C. this usually means a savanna-like setting of single or clumped open-grown trees; parklands ("flower-meadows" in spring) with widely spaced but still open-grown oaks; or the relatively more closed­ canopy woodlands. Garry oak ranges along the southeast coast of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands in B.C., and south into Washington, Oregon and California. Garry oak habitat in International Oaks

B.C. has experienced a dramatic decline. the classification. The work was influ­ There is a great deal of concern for its enced by successive approximation preservation, but a dedicated program (Poore 1962), tabular comparison is lacking, and there are serious conser­ (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974), vation issues confronting the remnant agency work in B.C. (e.g. Lea et al. 1985; areas. Meidinger and Pojar 1991) and other work in the Pacific Northwest (e.g.

Purposes. of the study Daubenmire 1970; Franklin and Dymess The purposes of the study were to 1973; Riegel et al. 1992). Plant species gather and interpret the infonnation avail­ dominance (e.g. Whittaker 1978; Walter able on the vegetation and ecology of 1979 p.19) through cover, rather than Garry oak ecosystems. Additionally, to species presence, was emphasized. Plant sample and classify the array of current species cover-classes (e.g. Daubenmire Garry oak communities in B.C.; and to 1959) were estimated along with other interpret management options and im­ measures designed to increase efficiency plications, including strategies for main­ and ensure the numerical adequacy of tenance and preservation of ecosystem the sampling effort. integrity and biodiversity. The ecological reconnaissance tenta­ tively denoted communities when com­ Study area binations of visually dominant plant spe­ My study consisted of ecological re­ cies were repeated across the landscape. connaissance and plot sampling Reconnaissance information, homoge­ throughout the main portions of the B.C. neity, minimum size criteria, and a range of Garry oak. Over 125 plot loca­ sample-needs assessment were used to tion areas were included on Vancouver select sites representing the communi­ Island and the Gulf Islands from East ties and site attributes (Walmsley et al. Sooke, Victoria and Satuma Island north 1980). Between one and 10 plots were to Comox and Hornby Island. These are sampled per plot location area. Single areas of modified Mediterranean climate, large plots varied in size (approximately distinctive within B.C., and characterized 70 to 400 square meters) and shape by summer drought and variable precipi­ (square, rectangular and circular). Veg­ tation (Erickson 1996). A general recon­ etation, soils, environment and oak char­ naissance tour of the U.S. portion of the acteristics were described for each plot range included 23 plots to help provide using standard forms and methods a context for the results. (Canada Soil Survey Committee 1978; Walmsley et al. 1980; Klinka et al. 1981 ). Methods Species data from all but the most dis- Subjective but systematic and stan­ dardized methods were used to develop contd. on pg. 42

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 41 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 41

turbed Garry oak sites was utilized. A crop flora, as well as the widespread oc­ total of 340 plot descriptions contributed currence of non-native invasive species to the classification. such as Scotch broom ( Cytisus sco­ Each community was identified parius) and others. Individual plant com­ through a process of grouping plots in munities are as follows: various combinations based on domi­ nant species. Dominance was empha­ sized through the use of six canopy 1. Native Plant Communities cover-classes (class 1, 0-1 percent; 2, 2- 1a. Early Season Plant Communities: 10;3, 11-25;4,26-50;5,51-75;6, 76-100). Oak- early camas: Typical subcommu­ The basic classification rule required nity that a species be present on at least 70 Oak- early camas- Easter lily subcom­ percent of sites and have a cover of 11 munity percent (class 3) or greater to be used in Oak- early camas- Henderson's defining a community. A taxonomic shooting star subcommunity framework was not used for the classifi­ Oak - early camas - western buttercup cation; plant communities were the ba­ subcommunity sic elements to which subcommunities Oak - great camas were added. Additions were made for Oak - perfoliate-leaved miner's lettuce subjective reasons or as the result of Oak - broom moss - seablush subcom- objective tests which used an adjust­ munity ment of the Motyka Coefficient of Simi­ larity (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1 b. Native Plant Communities of 1974). Bedrock Outcrops Oak - broom moss - seablush subcom­ Classification munity (also early season) Forty-three plant communities were Oak -broom moss- small-leaved montia identified by this approach. Native and subcommunity non-native communities were differenti­ Oak- broom moss- broad-leaved ated according to naming by dominant stonecrop subcommunity species, and separated in an organiza­ Oak-broom moss- Typical subcommunity tional sequence. This sequence also rec­ Oak- (Douglas-fir)- gray frayed-cap ognized both early season and rock out- moss - Wallace's selaginella subcommunity

Page 42 _ No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

1c . Other Native Plant Communities bromegrass subcommunity (dry to wet): Oak - orchardgrass * - tall oatgra ss* Oak - tall Oregon grape subcommunity Oak - hairy honeysuckle (colluvial) Oak- orchardgrass* -redtop* sub­ Krummholz Oak- Idaho fescue - community American vetch subcommunity Oak - Idaho fescue: Typical subcom­ 3. Second-Order Disturbance Com­ munity munities Oak - Idaho fescue - field chickweed 3a. Bedrock outcrops: subcommunity Oak- Broom* -gray frayed-cap moss ­ Oak - Idaho fescue - woolly clover annual fescue* - hairgrass* subcommunity subcommunity Oak - blue wildrye - peavine Oak- Broom* - gray frayed-cap moss Oak - California bromegrass typical subcommunity Oak - long-stoloned sedge Oak- Broom*- gray frayed-cap moss ­ Oak - oniongrass cheatgrass* subcornmunity Oak- ocean spray- snow berry­ licorice fern subcommunity 3b. Other Second- Order Disturbance Oak - (Douglas-fir) - ocean spray­ Communities (dry to wet): snowberry- electric cat's-tail moss Oak - Broom* - dogtail bristlegrass * subcommunity (late season) Oak- snowberry- Nootka rose- orange Oak- Broom* - sweet vernalgrass* honeysuckle subcommunity Oak- Broom*- blue wildrye Oak - snow berry -Nootka rose­ Oak- Broom* - Kentucky bluegrass* osoberry subcommunity Oak- Broom* - orchardgrass*

2. First-Order Disturbance Plant *introduced species Communities (dry to wet): Oak - gray frayed-cap moss - annual fescue* subcommunity Characterization Oak - dogtail bristlegrass * (late Across their range, GatTy oak stands season) and their landscape can variously be de­ Oak - sterile barn grass* scribed as "woodlands", "savanna", or Oak - sweet vernalgrass * "parklands"; and locally as "meadows" Oak- Kentucky bluegrass* - common (Daubenmire 1978; Franklin and Dyrness vetch* 1973; Erickson 1993). They are often in­ Oak- orchardgrass*: Typical subcom- terspersed with grassland ("oak prai- mun1ty• Oak - orchardgra ss* - California contd. on pg. 44

No. 10 I Spring 2000 Page 43 International Oaks

• I I I I • • • contd. from pg. 43

ries") and coniferous forest, or locally, the Saanich Peninsula of Vancouver Is­ with bedrock outcrops. Periodic fire is land (McMinn et al. 1976). The present suggested as a common factor in the study marks the first time many of these original ecosystem dynamics of oak communities have been recognized in woodlands (Sugihara et al. 1987; Agee B.C., although most have analogues fur­ 1996). Fire as a part of the oak ecosys­ ther south within the range of oak wood­ tem corresponds to the concept of a lands. Particularly notable in this classi­ natural disturbance regime (B.C. Minis­ fication are early-season communities try of Forests 1995). named for camas ( Camassia quamash, GarTy oak ecosystems helped provide C. leichtlinii) and other native commu­ sustainable lifestyles for aboriginal nities for Idaho fescue (Festuca peoples and they, in tum, may have main­ idahoensis) and blue wildrye (Elymus tained biodiversity through extensive glaucus). cultural management, such as bulb har­ Below, three contrasting communities vesting, shn1b removal and purposeful are characterized as typical examples for burning (Turner 1991; Agee 1996). Deep, the Garry oak habitat: a bedrock outcrop dark organically enriched surface soil community with introduced broom; a horizons have developed over a long native early-season community; and a period of Garry oak occupancy shrub thicket community. These repre­ (Broers rna 1973; Hebda 1995). sent sites along a moisture gradient from Descriptions have been published for very dry to moist. Species with a pres­ a number of Garry oak communities in ence of 0.70 or greater are included in the Pacific Northwest, but none to date the descriptions, along with selected for the B.C. oak woodlands. Relevant environmental characteristics. studies include those by Thilenius Oak - Broom- gray frayed cap moss ( 1968), Smith ( 1985) and Riegel et al. -annual fescue- hairgrass subcommu­ ( 1992) for the Willamette Valley and ad­ nity: This subcommunity is widespread jacent areas of interior Oregon, and and frequent (with 10 plots) in the south­ Sugihara et al. (1987) for the Bald Hills of em part of the area, but is found only on northern California. There are also anum­ Galiano among the Gulf Islands. These ber of unpublished or general studies sites have steep, convex, southwest-fac­ (Erickson 1996, Roemer 1972), including ing slopes with a high exposure of bed­ a physiognomic type classification for rock. With variable depth, soils are clas-

Page 44 No.lO I S rin 2000 International Oaks

sified as either Orthic Sombric Brunisols lished studies of the intermound sections or Regosols. Oak may be present as ei­ on oak prairies in western Washington ther a tall shrub or tree of various diam­ (Erickson 1996). eter. Introduced broom thrives on all Oak - great camas: This community, ) sites, generally as a low shrub, but some­ represented by 50 plots, is very frequent times as a tall shrub. Its cover-class av­ and widespread except on several of the erages 4 for the former and class 2 for Gulf Islands and the area east of Duncan the latter. Gray frayed-cap moss on Vancouver Island. It is partly distin­ (Rhacomitrium canescens) occupies guished by its association with fine tex­ most sites and averages class 3 to 4. In­ tured surface soils loam to silt loam­ troduced annual fescue (Festuca and by deep Ah horizons. Oaks are bromoides) grows on all sites and aver­ mostly in the tree-layer and have vari­ ages class 4. Introduced early hairgrass ous diameters. The community provides (Aira praecox) and introduced silver one of the spring flower shows for which hairgrass (A. caryophyllea) occur on the Garry oak habitat is famous. Great most sites and average class 2. Intro­ catnas is present on all sites and aver­ duced sheep son·el (Rumex acetosella) ages cover-class 3. The species present is present on all sites and averages class on most sites include snowberry 1. The remaining species include intro­ (Symphoricarpos albus) (class 3), intro­ duced dogtail bristlegrass ( Cynosurus duced Kentucky bluegrass (Poa echinatus ), introduced barren bamgrass pratensis) (class 2 to 3); and blue wildrye, (Bromus sterilis), introduced soft bro­ Pacific snakeroot (Sanicula megrass (B. mollis L.) and blue wildrye, crassicaulis), cleavers, introduced hairy all averaging class 2. Cleavers ( Galium vetch (Vicia hirsuta), and introduced aparine) averages class 1 to 2. common vetch (V sativa), each with Communities have not been classified class 2. for broom, introduced annual fescue, There are no communities classified introduced silver hairgrass or introduced for these species in the oak woodland early hairgrass in the literature on oak literature, but there are indications from woodlands, but broom is widespread and general and unpublished studies that dominant in many areas (e.g. Agee 1996). great camas is important in a number of Communities with dominant gray frayed­ other oak woodlands (Erickson 1996). cap moss are suggested from other stud­ Oak - snowberry - Nootka rose - ies including Waldron Island, Washing­ osoberry subcom1nunity~ This subcom­ ton, western Washington oak prairies, munity is represented by 10 plots on the and non-forested talus slopes (Franklin Saanich Peninsula pottions of southern and Dyrness 1973; Erickson 1996). The importance of introduced early hairgrass is indicated from general and unpub- contd. on pg. 46

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 45

• International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 45

Vancouver Island, but is infrequent or istic of the Quercus garryana/Fraxinus absent in the remainder of the range. latifolia/Rosa eglanteria/Juncus effusus Occupying low-elevation flat or gently association (Smith 1985) of the Umpqua sloping subhygric sites, these soils are basin, Oregon. This is a riparian wood­ characterized by Orthi Vermimull humus land related to a number of other Wash­ forms, deep dark -colored, fine textured ington and Oregon stands. Osoberry was Ah horizons and low percent coarse frag­ well represented in the Philadelphus/ ments. Sites usually have high cover­ Cystopteris community found on rocky class (5 or 6) tree-layer oaks, with vari­ stream channels in the Bald Hills oak ous diameters, and multi-layered shrub woodlands of California by Sugihara et thickets. Snow berry thrives on all occur­ al. (1987). Communities with dominant rences, averaging high cover-class (4) snowberry are widespread in other oak in the low shrub layer (< 2 m. height). woodlands (Erickson 1996). Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) occupies most sites in the low shrub layer (class Conservation 3) and some sites in the tall shrub layer Degradation, status and prospects for (class 2 to 3). Osoberry (Oe n~le ri a the future are discussed as elements of cerasiforn~ is ) occurs on most sites in the conservation in the following sections. tall shrub layer and some sites in the low shrub layer. Its cover-class averages 3 Degradation in the taller layer and 2 to 3 in the lower. Garry oak ecosystems are designated • Introduced daphne (Daphne !aureola) as critically imperiled in B.C. (B.C. Min­ grows on most sites in the low shrub istry of Environment, Lands and Parks layer, and averages class 1 to 2. Intro­ 1993). While Garry oak woodlands, mead­ duced orchardgrass (Dactylis ows and savanna once covered an ex­ glomerata) is present on most sites and tensive part of eastern Vancouver Island averages class 2. This community is very and the Gulf Islands of southeastern noticeable early in the year when B.C. (Hebda 1995; Erickson 1996) they osoberry (also known as 'Indian' plum) are now reduced to less than J0 percent is the first plant to flower. of their former habitat. This decline con­ Communities such as these are not tinues unchecked, and the remnants are described in the oak woodland literature. estimated to total less than 1,000 hect­ However, shrub thickets are character- ares. In the absence of a detailed inven-

Page 46 No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

tory, some place the remainder as low as areas (Capital Regional District Planning 1 percent of the former extent (Hebda Services 1997). 1992). No landscape-scale areas of Garry oak have been preserved. There is a scat­ Status I~ tering of oak habitat in parks and eco­ The status of Garry oak in B. C. can be logical reserves, all with considerably compared with that of California's rarest less than 50 hectares. Even these are tree oak, Engelmann oak (Quercus threatened by habitat fragtnentation and engelmannii), keeping in mind that B.C. introduced plant species, animals and has only a small portion of the range of insects (Erickson 1996). Garry oak. Engelmann oak is of "special Climate change, Douglas-fir encroach­ concern" in California, occupying an ment, habitat loss to agriculture and ur­ area of 31,3 I 7 hectares of woodland, in­ ban development have figured largely cluding the large, contiguous Santa in the demise of oak habitat. The elimi­ Rosa Plateau Preserve of 1255 hectares nation of the burning practices of ab­ (Scott 1990; Pavlik et al. 1992). In con­ original people resulted in shrub and trast, the much smaller, scattered rem­ Douglas-fir encroachment. Invading nants of Garry oak in B.C. are offered grasses, broom and other weeds usurped little protection. native plant communities, aided by the Garry oak ecosystems have been iden­ impacts of domestic grazing. Browsing tified as part of a biodiversity "hot spot" by deer and introduced eastern cotton­ (B.C. Ministry of Forests, no date). The tail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) added Garry oak flora is "one of the most phy­ to this affront to oak regeneration and togeographically interesting in Canada" ecosystem development. Garry oak (Pojar 1980 p.40), with species such as faced additional peril from the spread of Howell's brodiaea (Tritelia howellii), introduced insect pests such as jump­ golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta), ing gall-wasps (Neuroterus saltatorius) deltoid balsamroot (Balsamorhiza and oak-leaf phylloxeran (Phylloxera deltoidea) and 21 others. The Garry oak glabra). Colonization by gypsy moth habitat is estimated to have 40 to 50 rare (Lymantria dispar) is now a concern. species (Straley et al. 1985). Four spe­ Urban development has been the fore­ cies of vascular plants from this flora ­ most factor in the decimation of the B.C. Deltoid balsamroot, seaside birdsfoot Garry oak habitat, since its core was the lotus (Lotus formosissimus ), water plan­ urban zone of Greater Victoria. Growth tain buttercup (Ranunculus projections in the region show a popu­ alismaefoilus var. alismaefolius) and lation increase of about a third, with no prairie lupine (Lupin us lepidus) have new parks or protected natural areas planned, despite the concomitant pres­ sures on remaining parks and protected contd. on pg. 48 International Oaks

0 I t I t • • • contd. from pg. 4 7

been listed as endangered for Canada, Prospects for the future and one species, white topped aster (As­ Species of the Garry oak habitat have ter curtis), as threatened (Haber 1996). cultural heritage value, both for aborigi­ Conservation concern is growing for nal peoples and European settlers. To­ species such as Lewis' woodpecker day some of the population still shares (Melanerpes lewis) (Nuszdorfer et al. this sense of value. Garry oak communi­ 1991), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter ties may also have an important role in cooperii) (Campbell1992 pers. comm.), adjusting to the impact of climate western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), and change (Hebda 1991, 1992), predicted to band-tailed pigeon (Columba falcatus) create conditions for southern B.C. (Kavanaugh 1992 pers. comm. ), that rely analogous to present-day California. on, or may be lost from this habitat. The value of the Garry oak habitat to Lewis' woodpecker is designated on the society is now also being reinforced in blue list (considered vulnerable or sen­ political measures, such as a heritage sitive) (Munro 1993). Weber (1980) at­ landscape designation (Victoria City tributed the demise of this bird partly to Council 1992), an "Ecosystems At Risk" the destruction of many Garry oak brochure (B.C. Ministry of Environment, stands during Victoria's urban develop­ Lands and Parks 1993), tree preservation ment. This decline is shared with west­ by laws and conservation covenants. ern bluebirds. Other blue-listed species Many local citizen groups (such as the of Garry oak habitat include turkey vul­ Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Soci­ ture ( Cathartes aura), western screech­ ety) have formed to lobby for, monitor, owl ( Otus kennicottii) and Hutton's manage and restore Garry oak habitat. vireo (Vireo huttoni). Sharp-tailed snake Changes in the provincial Municipal Act ( Contia tenuis) is a red-listed (candidate make it possible to pay special attention for threatened or endangered designa­ to the preservation, protection and res­ tion) species (Munro 1993) from the toration of Garry oak ecosystems in Of­ GatTy oak habitat. A number of insect ficial Community Plans. Some municipali­ taxa from Garry oak habitat have recently ties have established a natural park des­ been given threatened status (B.C. Min­ ignation that they are applying to Garry istry Environment, Lands and Parks oak areas. One municipality, Saanich, 1994), including six butterfly subspecies. sees itself as a leader in the preservation and management of Garry oak. International Oaks

While Garry oak is limited in distribu­ rector General, Environment Canada. tion on provincial forest land, the Forest Feb. 7, 1997). An example is the recent Practices Code of British Columbia Act Endangered Species newsletter by Ca­ has a number of measures which should nadian Wildlife Service entitled "Garry afford protection including: oak ecosystems under siege" (Haber - special attention in planning as a rare 1996). Garry oak areas could be consid­ forest type comprising less than 10 per­ ered for preservation under the joint pro­ cent of a landscape unit; vincial/ federal Pacific Marine Heritage -listing of one of the Garry oak plant Legacy program for a number of differ­ communities as "identified wildlife", with ent types of park. Several Garry oak ar­ general wildlife measures and recom­ eas have been proposed, including one mendations for preservation in wildlife which is currently the subject of a fund­ habitat areas. raising effort. The Department of Na­ Natural disturbance concepts intro­ tional Defense has a cooperative agree­ duced in the Biodiversity Guidebook, ment with Canadian Wildlife Service to which is part of the Forest Practices maintain their Garry oak properties in the Code, should also benefit Garry oak eco­ natural state. systems by recognizing the role of fre­ A management strategy has been pro­ quent low-intensity fires in their ecosys­ posed for the Garry oak habitat in B.C. tem development (B.C. Ministry of For­ (Erickson 1996). Recommendations have ests 1995). These fires would help re­ been made to apply this management verse the detrimental ecological changes strategy; to recognize a Garry oak resulting from a century and a half of parkland ecological zone; and to carry disruption in natural fire regimes. out this work under a program dedicated Garry oak is represented in parts of only to the Garry oak habitat (Erickson two Ecological Reserves: Mt. Maxwell 1996). Dedicated programs developed (64.8 hectares) and Mt. Tzouhalem (18 for the South Okanagan (provincial) and hectares). There is also a scattering of "Carolinian Canada" (federal/ province Garry oak in the 253.8-hectares Mt. Tuam of Ontario) biotic zones provide a prece­ Ecological Reserve. A couple of smaller dent and possible models to use. Gan·y oak properties have been identi­ fied for possible acquisition as protected Discussion areas. There are a number of municipal A detailed plant community classifi­ and regional district parks with some cation and characterization is available Garry oak habitat, but with aims and ob­ for Garry oak ecosystems in B.C. jectives varying away from preservation. (Erickson 1996), as summarized in this Garry oak ecosystems are becoming recognized for their national significance (letter from A.M. Martell, Regional Di- contd. on pg. 50

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 49 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 49

paper. Cotnparison of these communities nities. This approach conforms with the with other oak woodlands of the Pacific unifying comment of Walter ( 1979 p.l9) Northwest suggests both parallel and on the "need to define each type of eco­ some obvious differences among them. sy tern by the dominants", and avoids The lack of poison oak (Rhus featuring species with minor cover and diversiloba) is an attribute bared with unpredictable occurrence. The refined the San Juan Islands of Wa hington, a detail in the cia ification contributes to pecies which otherwise characterizes the aim of rep resenting natural Pacific Northwest oak woodlands. Dif­ biodiver ity. Early-season (April 1 to ferences may stem from biogeographic May 15) sampling and classification ex­ hi tory, field inten ity and the lack of tend this aim. Knowledge of early season sampling in the other stud­ biodiversity enhance potential preser­ ies. Thi classification accommodates the vation of the range of ecosy terns and sea onal conver ion in dominance from the diversity therein. Preserving Garry native species early to introduced spe­ oak woodland and savanna keeps con­ cies later in the year. servation biology option open. If re­ This classification provide a frame­ gional climate does change, the e plant work to organize knowledge of eco y - material could be important for their tern function and dynamics. This frame­ adaptations to the predicted warm, dry work can be u. ed to communicate ele­ conditions (Franklin and Dyrness 1973· ments of the Garry oak land cape to Erickson 1996). manager , cientists and naturalists, and The communities identified form a ba­ can provide a common language for si for assessing statu in relation to sharing information. A classification es­ conservation biology objectives and tablishes a reference point for compar­ management activitie . They serve as a ing the results of treatment and may focus for developing interpretation and sugge t hypothese to investigate. Clas­ management trategies to maintain the sification is fundamental to the comple­ ecological integrity ( ustainablity) of tion of other es ential pursuits, such as Gan·y oak habitat. While the primary fo­ mapping and inventory. cus of integrity su tainability is on na­ Plant pecies dominance, as inter­ tive communities, attention is still re­ preted through canopy cover-class is quired for non-native ones. These dis­ emphasized in establishing the commu- turbed communities are benchmarks for International Oaks evaluating current management and a difference in conservation practice. have the potential for recovery to the Additional interest and support on are­ original native communities. In addition, gional, cross-boundary, and interna­ sharing plant community information tional scale may be one ingredient to across a biogeographic range can assist successfully ensuring the preservation local ecological studies by providing and management of Garry oak in British insights with regional application. Columbia. Garry oak communities in British Co­ lumbia have suffered a history of degra­ Literature Cited dation and attrition, resulting in the "ctiti­ Agee, J.K., 1996. Achieving conserva­ cally imperiled" status and similar des­ tion biology objectives with fire in the ignations for a number of their plant spe­ Pacific Northvvest. Weed Technology 10 cies, avifauna, butterflies and other in­ (2): 417-421, April-June, 1996. sects. While there are cutrent measures which may provide some hope, a com­ B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and prehensive, focused program is lacking. Parks, 1993. Garry oak ecosystems at The results of my work suggest the fol­ ri sk. brochure. Wildlife Branch. Victoria. lowing management strategy, can·ied out within a program dedicated only to the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Garry oak habitat: Parks, 1994. British Columbia Terrestrial - preserve all larger Garry oak areas, ac­ and Freshwater In vertebrates: In ventory quiring those in private ownership; Priorities for Status of Rare and Endan­ -apply detailed classification and inven­ gered Species. Wildlife Branch. Oct./94. tory and preserve and acquire smaller parcels on an ecosystem-by-ecosystem B.C. Ministry of Forests, no date. basis; Biodiversity. brochure. Research - evaluate and actively manage each Branch. Victoria. Garry oak parcel; - promote and undertake the research B.C. Ministry of Forests, 1995. required to complement the activities of Biodiversity Guidebook. Forest Practices the strategy. Code of British Columbia, Victoria. Only when such a program is accepted and funded can a realistic claim be made Broersma, K., 1973. Dark Soils of the for conservation of Garry oak communi­ Victoria Area, British Colu1nbia. M.Sc. ties in Canada. Recognizing a Garry oak thesis, Dept. Soil Sci., Univ. of Brit. Col. parkland zone should provide one basis Vancouver. for a focus. Currently, Garry oak ecosys­ tems remain without national status, and the pro vi nciallabel has not as yet made contd. on pg. 52

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 51 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 51

Campbell, R.W., 1992. personal commu­ Erickson, W.R., 1996. Classification and nication. Ornithologist. Wildlife Branch. Interpretation of Garry oak (Quercus B .C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and garryana) Plant Communities and Eco­ Parks. Victoria. systems in southwestern British Colum­ bia. M.Sc. thesis, Dept. of Geography, Canada Soil Survey Committee, 1978. Univ. of Victoria. The Canadian System of Soil Classifica­ tion. Agriculture Canada. Quee n 's Franklin, J .F. and C. T. Dyrness, 1973. Printer. Ottawa. Nat ural Vegetation of Washington and Oregon. U.S.D.A. For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Capital Regional District Planning Ser­ Rep. PNW 8. Portland, Oregon. vices, 1997. Setting the Base Case: The OCP (Official Community Plan) Option. Haber, E., 1996. Garry oak ecosystems Foundations for our future 3. August, under siege. Recovery Watch. Fall 1996. 1997. Victoria. Canadian Wildlife Service. Ottawa.

Daubenmire, R.H., 1959. A canopy-cov­ Hebda, R.J., 1991. Global climate change erage n1ethod of vegetational analysis. and the impact on B.C. plants and veg­ Northwest Science 33:43-64. etation. Bioline 10 ( 1) : 11- 15.

Daubenmire, R.H., 1970. Steppe vegeta­ Hebda, R.J., 1992. The Model Green City. tion of Washington. Washington Agri­ presentation notes. Swan Lake Nature culture Experimental Station Technical Centre. June 3, 1992. Bulletin 62. Pullman, Washington. Hebda, R.J., 1995. British Columbia veg­ Daubenmire, R.H., 1978. Plant Geogra­ etation and climate history with focus phy. Academic Press, San Francisco. on 6 KA BP. Geographie Physique et Quaternaire 49 (1):55-79. Erickson, W.R., 1993. Garry oak land­ scapes and communities across the geo­ Hebda, R.J. and F. Aitkens, ed., 1993. graphic range. pp. 11-15 in: Hebda and Garry Oak-Meadow Colloquium Pro­ Aitkens, 1993. ceedings. Garry Oak Meadow Preserva­ tion Society. Victoria, B.C ..

Page 52 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

Kavanaugh, R., 1992. personal commu- on Biological Diversity. Royal B.C. Mu­ nication. Chair, Oak Habitat Committee, seum. Victoria. Washington Audubon Society. Nu szdorfer, F.C., K. Klinka and D.A. Klinka, K., R.N. Green and L.E. Lowe, Demarchi, 1991. Coastal Dougla -fir 1981. Taxonomic Classification of Humus Zone. pp. 82-90 in: Meidinger and Pojar, Forms in Ecosystems of British Colum­ 1991. bia - First Approx. Land Manage. Rpt No. 8. B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, Pavlik, B.M. P.C. Muick, S.G. Johnson B.C .. and M. Popper, 1992. Oaks of California. Cachuma Press and Calif. Oak Found., Lea, E. C. , T. Void and R.J. Williams, 1985. Los Olivos. CA. Dewdrop-Tranquille Wildlife Habitat Study 2: Biophysical Inventory. Wildlife Pojar , J., 1980. Threatened habitats of rare Branch, B.C. Ministry of Environment, vascular plants in British Columbia. pp. Victoria. 40-48 in: Stace-Smith, R. , L. Johns and P. Joslin, ed., Threatened and Endangered McMinn, R.G., S. Eis, H.E. Hirvonen, E.T. Species and Habitats in British Colun1- Oswald and J.P. Senyk, 1976. Native Veg­ bia and the Yukon: Symposium Proceed­ etation in British Columbia's Capital Re­ ings. March 8-9, 1980. Richmond. B.C. gion. Canadian Forest Service, Environ­ Ministry of Environment, Victoria. ment Canada, Victoria. Poore, M.E.D., 1962. The method of suc­ Meidinger D. and J. Pojar, ed., 1991. Eco­ cessive approximation in descriptive systems of British Columbia. B.C. Min­ ecology. Advanced Ecological Research istry of Forests Special Report Series No. 1:35-68. 6. Victoria. Riegel, G.M., J.F. Franklin and B.G. Smith, Mueller-Dombois, D. and H. Ellenberg, 1992. Foothill oak woodlands of the in­ 197 4. Aims and Methods of Vegetation terior valleys of southwestern Oregon. Ecology. John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. Northwest Science 66 (2):66-76.

Munro, W.T. , 1993. Designation of en­ dangered species, subspecies and popu­ Roemer, H.L., 1972. Forest Vegetation and lations by COSEWIC. pp. 213-227 in: Environments on the Saanich Peninsul a. Fenger, M.A., E.H. Miller, J.F. Johnson, Ph.D. thesis. Department of Biology, Uni­ and E.J .R. Williams, 1993. Our Living versity of Victoria. Legacy: Proceedings of A Symposium contd. on pg. 54

No.lO I Spring 2000 Page 53 •

International Oaks

I t I t • • • contd. from pg. 53

Scott, T.A., 1990. Conserving California's Victoria City Council, 1992. Ga1Ty Oak rarest white oak: The Englemann oak. Ecosystem. Committee of the Whole Fremontia 18 (3):26-29. Report. Recommendation No. 1 to Coun­ cil, from the meeting of October 15, 1992. Smith, W.P., 1985. Plant associations within the interior valleys of the Umpqua Walter, H., 1979. Vegetation of the Earth River Basin, Oregon USA. Journal of and Ecological Systems of the Geo-bio­ Range Management 38 (6):526-530. sphere, Springer Verlag, New York.

Straley, G.B., R.L. Taylor and G.W. Dou­ Walmsley, M., G. Utzig, T. Void, D. Moon glas, 1985. The rare vascular plants of and J. van Barneveld, ed., 1980. Describ­ British Columbia. Nat. Museum Canada. ing Ecosystems in the Field. B.C. Minis­ Syllogeus Vol. 59. Ottawa, Ont., as cited try of Environment. Land Manage. Rpt. in N uszdorfer et al., 1991. No.7. Victotia.

Sugihara, N.G., L.J. Reed and J.M. Weber, W.C., 1980. A proposed list of Lenihan, 1987. Vegetation of the Bald rare and endangered bird species for Hills oak woodlands, Redwoods Na­ British Columbia. pp. 160-182 in: Stace­ tional Park, California. Madrono 34 Smith, R., L. Johns and P. Joslin, ed. (3): 193-208. Threatened and Endangered Species and Habitats in British Columbia and the Thilenius, J.F., 1968. The Quercus Yukon: Symposiun1 Proceedings. March garryana forests of the Willamette val­ 8-9, 1980. Richmond. B.C. Ministry of En­ ley, Oregon. Ecology 49:1124-1133. vironment, Victoria.

Turner, N.J., 1991. Burning mountain Whittaker, R.H., ed., 1978. Classification sides for better crops: Aboriginal land­ of Plant Communities. Dr. D.W. Junk, The scape burning in British Columbia. Ar­ Hague. chaeology in Montana 32 (2):57-73.

Page 54 No.lO I Spring 2000 International Oaks

• by Eike Jablonski Luxembourg, GERMANY

ne may be surprised to learn that on Borneo, Java and other regions of Indonesia and Malaysia there are oaks growing in the rainforests. In fact, Fagaceae are widespread in the Malaysian region, with more than I 00 Lithocarpus species and 19 Quercus species. All the Quercus in the area belong to the subgenus Cyclobalanopsis (Oerststed) Schneider, which is confined to eastern and south-eastern Asia. Other genera of the oak family, such as Castano]Jsis and Trigonobalanus, also occur in the Malaysian region. The Malaysian Quercus species are distributed as follows: Malay Peninsula (8 spp.), Sumatra (1 0 spp.), West and Central Java (5 spp.), Borneo (18 spp.), and Palawan (1 species). Quercus spp. in Malaysia often constitute the canopy of the primary evergreen lowland, and even more commonly, the lower montane rainforest. Species occur from sea level up to 3400 m, most commonly at altitudes of 700 1800 m, growing in various types of forest such as mixed dipterocarp forest, swamp forest and ridge forest (Lemmons et al., 1995). Borneo is the third largest island of the world, with a total area of nearly 750,000 square kilometres, but a population of only 10 million. Three quarters of Borneo belongs to Indonesia, constituting the part called Kalimantan. The rest is divided between the two Malaysian states, Sabah and Sarawak, and Brunei. Much of Borneo is no longer wild and tranquil rainforests, since burning and logging have destroyed more than 50 percent of the rainforest. Even in remote areas one will

contd. on pg. 56

' No.1 0 I Spring 2000 .Page 55 International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 55

hardly find any virgin rainforest; more Mount Kinabalu has an interesting often you will see endless plantations history. The massif is quite young and of oil palms. And in steeper and more is composed of exposed granite rock difficult areas, the forests are burnt which began rising out of the basic soils down for a few years of pineapple culture about 10 million years ago. It is said that for the local markets. Kinabalu is still pushing up at around 5 Within easy access is the Malaysian mm a year, and that 10,000 years ago the state of Sabah, a unique spot for mountain was probably some hundred mountaineers and botanists from all over meters higher with an ice-capped top. the world because Borneo's highest Former glaciation is still visible on the peak, Mount Kinabalu, reaches 4101 m. summit. The rich spectrum of vegetation The whole mountain massif was arises from the great variety of climatic transformed into a national park. zones and marked differences in soil Kinabalu massif is not only an important types. On average, there is a drop in water catchment, but also a treasure of mean temperature of 0.55°C for every flora and fauna, with lots of endemic 100 m increase in elevation. Therefore, species that grow nowhere else in the the lowland forests around the base of world. The Kinabalu massif is by far the the mountain have daily mean most interesting place in Borneo to see temperatures of 28°C, while in the summit Malaysian oaks, as there are more than region, temperatures are only around 6- 10 species of Quercus growing here, with 80C, with occasional frost associated three species endemic to this location. with drought. A characteristic feature of tropical mountains is the high air humidity and increasing water surplus with saturation of the soil. The daily clouds that cover the mid-zone from 1200- .::t:.·- VIs:: 0 2000 m to 3000-3200 m are a stable feature ..0- 0 tJ and this area is the primary oak-forest ~ .::t:. UJ·- zone. £ On Kinabalu, four characteristic 0 +- 0 ..s:: a. floristic zones develop: the lowland forest up to 1200 m; the lower montane Quercus lowii acorns collected at approximately 2000 m on Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo. zone up to 2000-2300 m; the upper International Oaks

mountain zone up to 2800 m; and a subalpine zone at 2800-3400 m. Oaks are present in all zones except the subalpine -':£·- zone. The soils are generally acid at V)s:: • 0 -..0 0 higher elevations, with very peaty soils t-, ~ in the montane forest zones. From the -':£·- LU >- montane zones to the summit a large ..0 • 0 +- 0 range of Ericaceae (e.g. around 35 .s:: 0.. species of Rhododendron), and some Specimens of Quercus gemelli flora, showing exten­ lesser-known Gymnosperms (like sive buttressed root systems on trees 140 years ofage Agathis Dacrydium), are abundant. The at Bogo1; West Java, Indonesia. lower zones differ in soil types, with ultra­ basic soils not uncommon, and this is around and discovers a mystetious world the preferred soil type of some oaks like of unspoilt mountain forest, with Quercus lowii. rhododendrons blooming far away in the The abundance of tree species and distance, and tree ferns, orchids, pitcher the relative uniformity in leaf shape and plants and oaks in between. That makes habit makes it very difficult to discover up for leeches on your neck or the oaks amongst the dwarfs and giants mosquitoes in your sleeping bag. of the lower and upper montane forest. Common on the lower parts of the Viewing the bark helps, as most of the summit trail is Quercus lowii King, a Malaysian Fagaceae are recognisable in handsome tree with large acorns, which, the field by their characteristic light­ amazingly, sometimes stand upright. In greyish, smooth and mottled bark. Still August it was fruiting season for this you need to find out what Fagaceae oak, which is hard to find in the forest. species you have discovered. Cockburn We saw Quercus lowii growing in small ( 1976) writes: "[For determination] groups or as single trees, nowhere however, it has been impossible not to abundant, but present up to 2500 m. The use fruits in many cases; these are often leaves are not that variable in size. There found scattered below the trees in the are two different types of Q. lowii with forest, and remain for some time." If there different foliar features. According to are no fruiting specimens meaning Soepadmo (1972) the leaves of the fallen acorns on the ground you will lowland form are glabrous, while in the miss 95 percent of the oaks along the mountain form they are mostly way. That means that while climbing tomentose beneath. The acorns are so Mount Kinabalu, one looks more to the large that it is difficult to carry many. ground in search of acorns than to the They are ovoid and up to 3 em long. Out left or the right. Anyway this keeps you right on the trail. Occasionally one looks contd. on pg. 58 International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 57

a lowland species, growing from 850 m in Java to around 1800 m onMt. Kinabalu. Its leaves vary greatly in shape, which makes it extremely difficult to identify only from foliar samples. Soepadmo ( 1972) described them as follows: "Leaves thin-coriaceous, elliptic-lanceolate, rarely ovate, 5-16 by 1-5 em, base acute or roundish, margin entire or remotely serrulate near the sharply acute or 0.5 - 1.5 em acuminate apex; beneath with a sparse stellate tomentum, above glossy, glabrous; midrib and nerves prominent beneath, impressed above, nerves 6-12 pairs, at ~·- Vlc 0 an angle of 45-60°, para1lel, arcuating -..0 ...,0 towards the margin; reticulation ~ ~·- LlJ obscure; petiole slender, 1-2.5 cn1, £ 0 adaxially furrowed." The acorns are +- ..c0 a.. sn1al1, and we found abundant quantities Fruits and bark of Quercu. gemelli fl ora at Bogcu; on the ground in August that were quite West Java, Indonesia. a few weeks old. A tree at the Botanical of the Kinabalu area there is one record Garden at Bogor shows a typical of Q. Lowii from Mount Liang Gagang in coppicing habit with many branchlets western Kalimantan. Soepadmo writes rising from the ground, a feature also to that this oak prefers ultra-basic soils. be seen on Mount Kinabalu. The tree at Quercus subsericea A. Camus is more Bogor reaches 25 m. common on Kinabalu, but all-in-all, Quercus gemellifZora Blume is a scattered. The distribution is wider than widespread oak in Sabah and on Mount that of Q. lo\lvii, and extends from Kinabalu. Growing up to 2200 m, it is Sumatra, Java, and Banka, to the Malay more common in hill forest at 600 m. Peninsula (where we discovered some Often this species grows along streams near Malacca) and Borneo. It is more of on clay or ultra-basic soil overlying

• International Oaks

...... - . .~ . .. . .- : ...... Cl ·Vl- Vl :::J ct. 0'1- L.. :::J ...0 Vl L.. •.. ~ • I +- ' ~ ~ a..- £ ~\ Vl +- '· ·s::::- ~ ~ ·-L...... ,:::J '+- 0

Vl>- ~ +- L.. :::J 0 u Vl 0'1 s:::: ·-3: 0 L.. 0 Quercus argcntata Korth

sandstone or granite. Quercus in shape. No fruiting specimen was ge1nell iflora is used locally as timber for observed at Kinabal u in August. house construction. The bark contains Soepadmo (1972) writes that fruiting tannin and also is used by the local seems to be irregular. Two old specimens tribes. This medium-sized tree grows up were planted at Bogor Botanical Garden, to 30 m. The leaves are elliptical­ West Java, dating back to 1860. These lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, 5-15 em x huge trees have impressive buttress 2-6 em, with a remotely setTulate margin roots, and the trunks reach 35 m in height. in the upper half, which makes this As mentioned by Soepadmo ( 1972), fruits species easier to identify than some of and flowers have been observed here the other Malaysian oaks. Acorns are together in August. large, 2.0-5.5 em by 1-2 em, and conical contd. on pg. 60

J'lo. 10 I Spring 2000 Page 59 International Oaks

• • •

contd. from pg. 59

Another medium-sized tree, which oaks. The tree we saw also had occurs scattered on Mt. Kinabalu, is remarkably dense and prominent Quercus !ineata Blume. This species has lenticels on the branchlets. There are a wide distribution in Malaysia including also records of Quercus argentata from Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Java and Singapore, the Malay Peninsula, some locations on Borneo. The leaves Sumatra, Bangka, the Anambas Islands are similar to those of Quercus acuta in and West Java. size, with an acute tip of 0.5-1.5 em, with On the site of the Park headquarters the entire leave ovate-elliptic, 5-16 em there is an old Quercus by 2-6 ctn , and sometimes an pseudoverticillata Soepadmo growing. asym1netrical acute base. Acorns are This was the only specimen we saw of rather small , conical-cylindrical, 2-3 by this oak, one of the rarest oaks of the 1-2 em. We did not find any fruiting world, which is endemic only to Mount specimens in August. Quercus lineata Kinabalu. It is a medium-sized tree is an important source of mempening comparable to the other oaks in this area, wood (the Malay name for wood used with an interesting bark, which is scaly for all kinds of smaller construction work, and peels off profusely into small including house construction). More rectangular pieces. This oak was named important is its use for erosion control in 1966 by E. Soepadmo, who is the • when planted on steep slopes in leading authority on Malaysian • • mountainous regions. Fagaceae, and who named a few new One of the largest oaks in Malaysia is species . Other interesting species Quercus argentata Korthals, which growing near the Park headquarters are grows up to 40 m. The tree is widespread, Acer laurinum, (one of the evergreen but uncommon, and can be found from maples), Trigonobalanus verticillata, as the low lands (often in swamps) to 2700 well as many Castanopsis spp. and m on Kinabalu. On Kinabalu I saw a Lithocarpus spp. According to single tree at one location. The species Soepadmo ( 1972) the following other oak is more or less easily recognisable species also occur on Mount Kinabalu, because the underside of the leaf is but we did not see any during our stay densely silvery tomentose, while the there in August 1998: upper side is glaucous. This makes this Quercus valdinervosa Soepadmo: tree quite distinct from other Malaysian widely distributed only on Borneo.

Page 60 No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

Sarawak and Sabah. It is a typical low land specie• s, growing• in forests from 100- 500m Q ue r c us 0 ·-V) V) :J kinabalue nsis ct. cit f- Soepadmo: a ~ fairly large tree up f- a..t to 40 m tall. It i: grows in forests V)

~~ from 500- 2600

~f- m altitude on :J

'+-~--, ultra-basic soils. 0

?l~ Only two

~0 locations are

0"1 known: Mt. c~

· 0~ Kinabalu and the f- D L______~ neig hbo urin g Quercus lowii King Bukit Ampuon. Qu e rcu s Quercus sumatrana Soepadmo: some treubiana von Seernen: grows on scattered locations on Sumatra Sumatra (near Palembang), scattered in (Bencoolen, Simalur) and Borneo Kalimantan, and on M o u n t (northern Sarawak, Western Sabah, in Kinabalu. The preferable locations are Kalimantan near Balikpapan and sandy waterlogged soils from 600-2100 Samarinda). Not much is known about m altitude. this species as there are just a handful Quercus elmeri Merrill: grows on of specimens in herbaria. Soepadmo sandy loam or ultra-basic soil from (1972) wrote that "inflorescences are as Central Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula yet unknown." Also, Lemmens et al. and Borneo. First recorded in 1929, the (1995) wrote " Q. sumatrana is a still inflorescences are still not known. imperfectly known species of forest on sandy loam or basalt-derived soils, up There are a few good specimens of to 1300 m altitude." other Malaysian oaks in the Botanical Quercus merillii von Seemen: the only oak which grows in the Phillippines (Palawan only), and also scattered in contd. on pg. 62

No.1 0 I Spring 2000 . Page 61 International Oaks

• • • contd. from pg. 61

Garden ofBogor, tree in the West Java. This Botanical Botanical Garden, up to 40 Garden was m. Interesting are founded by the the large Dutch in the last di stinguished century, and buttress roots. covers an area of Quercus 87 hectares in the oidocarpa has a middle of the large distribution city. The from peninsular Botani ca l Thailand down Garden is a must through Malay to visit and both Peninsula, west the arboretum and central Java, and herbarium and west -central have an Sumatra. It grows international from 150- 1500 m reputation. Some altitude on oaks planted different soil s around 1860 are such as clay, still growing in sandy loam or the garden, and gran1te.• the Garden offers It was on one of the rare Central Java chances to see where a group of mature monkeys playing Malaysian oaks Drawings courtesy of Juri Menitsky, Petersburg, Russia around our outside the Quercus gemelli flora Blome cottage turned forests. Besides out to be real the oaks already noted, there is one monsters. Whilst I was dozing in a chair more species to be seen: in the morning sun, two monkeys Quercus oidocarpa Korthals is a large climbed down a tree to see what special

Page 62 No.1 0 I Spring 2000 International Oaks

goodies we had hidden in some bags. Botanical Gardens of Cibodas in Central But the rascals didn't just look into the Java, nor at Bali have native Quercus bags, no. They grabbed them and can·ied species planted. them 6 m high in a tree so they would There is definitely a lack of information have a safer place to investigate what about these often overlooked oaks. Little was inside. Guess what was in the bags? is known about flowering status, Fresh and germinating acorns from inflorescences, fruiting, etc. of some Bornean and Javanese oaks, ready to be lesser known species. Wouldn't it be flown to European greenhouses. That fitting for the International Oak Society morning Carmen (who accompanied me to help to establish a collection of on all the oak trips, under difficult Malaysian oaks in the region? conditions) had work enough to calm me down. Since that day I have an References unpleasant relationship with monkeys. 1. Cockburn, P.F. (1976): Trees ofSabah, There are a few other places to view Volume One. Sabah Forest Record 10. oaks on the Malay Peninsula, including Borneo Literature Bureau, Forest two locations with easy access. The Department Sabah. Cameron Highlands in the middle of the 2. Lemmens, R.H.M.J.; Soeringa, I; Wong, Peninsula has scenic walks through tea W.C. (ed.), (1995): Plant Resources of plantations to the upper hill zone where South-East Asia 5 (2). Timber Trees: sotne Quercus species are still growing. Minor commercial timbers. Backhuys Also, on the walk up Penang Hill at Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands. Penang Island just south of Thailand. 3. Menitzkij, J. ( 1986): Dubi Asii (The The Arboretum of the Forest Research Oaks ofAsia). Nauka, Leningrad. Institute of Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur 4. Soepadmo, E. (1972): Fagacea; in: also offers the chance to see Malaysian • Flora Malesiana, Series I Quercus species. These are nearly all the Spermatophyta, Vol. 7, part 2, pp 265-403. locations where it is more or less easy to Wolters-N oordhoff Pub 1i shing, view native oaks, since neither the Groningen, The Netherlands.

No.lO I S rin 2000 · Page 63 International Oaks

• ' • tona •• on'· . erence

ovember, ZDDD (Seed Season in North CarolinaH) + Field trips to see 40 oak species in + Visits to nurseries, gardens, ancient three states specimen trees, and a USDA plant introduction station + Seed exchange and plant sale + Tours of natural oak habitats, + Oak-related exhibits and poster including mountains, swamps, sand presentations hills scrub, and Atlantic coast

+ Seminars emphasizing oak ecology, + Opportunities to meet members from pathology, taxonomy, conservation, many nations worldwide and propagation

Watch for upcoming information from the In tional Oak Soci

:;- Donations embership The International Oak Society is a non-profit 501-{c)(3) organization, and additional contributions are fuiJy tax deductible under the U.S. Internal Rev­ enue Code. Contributors may choose to help support educational conference expenses, publications, or the general operating budget. All transactions must be in U.S. dollars. Please pay by money order or check payable to "International Oak Society," and send the payment together with your order, name, address, telephone, fax and/or e-mail address to Dr. Rich­ ard Jensen at the Mem.bership Office. To pay by ,V,I$A or MasterCard, send -a· ·. letter or fax indicatin~ ·payment of membership dues and/or other specified items, the amount being.paid, the credit card number arid expiration date, and your signature as authorization to charge the amount to your account. International Oaks

General Policies and avoid bold type, custom margins, and other The International Oak Society will accept optional format codes. Authors s ubmitting articles for International Oaks, the journal of papers in other formats must pay US$1 0 per the International Oak Society, from members manuscript page, in advance, to help defray or non-members, as long as the material pre­ the additional costs of reformatting for publi­ sented is pertinent to the genus Quercus. Writ­ cation. Illustrations and photographs should ten contributions may be scientific/technical be sharp and compatible with monochromatic papers, historical, horticultural, instructional or reproduction. Style, c itation methods, and general interest material (stories/articles of a abstracts are left to the reasonable discretion partic ular tree, event, place, person, etc.) or of the author. Refer to the current Council of letters to the editor; a mix of categories is en­ Biological Editors (CBS) Style Manual for Bio­ couraged. Material may be previously published logical Journals for general guidelines. or unpublished. The author's name, title, ad­ dress, telephone and/or telefacsimile (fax) num­ Tables and charts which are not submitted ber, and e-mail (if available) should be included. in camera-ready form (or in an electronic for­ Any contributions longer than 7500 words must mat approved in advance by the editor) may be approved in advance by the Editor. be rejected, or subjected to a minimum $30 (US) production fee. Do not place tables or Copyrights charts within text files. All tables and charts International Oaks is not copyrighted, but n'lust be in separate files or 1nay be re1noved authors, photographers and artists may claim from sub1nittal. All measurements should be copyrights on their work. Anyone wishing to expressed in metric units, or in metric fol­ use portions of International Oaks for other lowed (in parentheses) by English. Scientific publication should secure permission from the names, with authority or with reference to the author, photographer or artist, and inc lude a treatment in a specified standard taxonomic credit line indicating International Oaks a the manual must be included for each taxon dis­ source of the material. All contributors sub­ cussed if there is any possibility for confusion. mitting work thereby release their contribu­ tion for publication under the terms stated Review herein. Authors take full and sole responsibil­ The editorial committee and editor reserve ity for securing releases for use of material the right to edit all contributions for grammar, obtained from other sources, and agree to in­ correct English trans lation, c urrent nomen­ demnify the International Oak Society against clature, generall y accepted taxonomic con­ any c laim of plagiarism involving their con­ cepts, scientific accuracy, appropriateness, tribution. length and clarity; but assume no responsibil­ ity to do so. If such review results in signifi­ Format cant disputes of factual material, the author Contributions will be accepted in any legible will be contracted if possible, or the paper tnay format, in Engli sh only. Text should be re­ be rejected. Every effort w ill be made to re­ stricted to a ingle, standard font, preferably tain the original intent of the author. Times New Roman; double spaced; and left jus tified; with paragraphs set in block style Acceptance (without indent). No more than two levels of The International Oak Soc iety reserves the subheadings should be included. Electroni c files right to reject any contribution without show­ written in IBM-compatible WordPerfect or ing cause. Contributions which are accepted Microsoft Word on a 3.5-inch disk are pre­ will be published in a subsequent issue at no fee ferred, and must be accompanied by one paper to the author and without remuneration. Origi­ copy. Do not add page numbers, borders, head­ nal artwork and photographs will be returned ers or footers. Single space between sentences, if requested.

No.lO I Spring 2000 _ Page 65

In this issue r11ational Oaks - • The Jour1tal oi the lnterJtational Oak Society

The Name Game c/o Doug McCreary - Integrated Hardwood Range Mgt. Program University of California Homonyms) Synonyms) and 8279 Scott Forbes Road Frustrations: An Introduction to the Name Problems of Browns Valley, California 95918 Oaks USA

No menclature Problems in Oak Propagation

Oak Barrels: Where They Come From and How They Are Made

A New Species of Red Oak (Quercus sec. lobatae) From Central Mexico

Clonal Oak Propagation: AI most a Reality

Garry Oak Communities in Can ada: Classification) Characteri zation and Conservation

Among the Oak Forests of Borneo and Java

Author's Guidelines