Common Name: Gambel Oak Thomas Nuttall named Gambel oak acorns, the plant can spread rapidly from (Quercus gambelii) after William Gambel root sprouts that grow from underground Scientific Name: Quercus gambelii (see Featured Bird article). A deciduous structures called lignotubers. This feature tree that commonly occurs in Arizona’s makes Gambel oak resistant to wildfires, ponderosa pine forests, Gambel oak grows resprouting quickly after fire, and aids in at elevations between 5,000 to 8,000 feet. watershed stabilization. It is also a fairly It is adapted to a variety of soils and can be drought tolerant plant. found in poor, rocky soils or in more fertile The foliage is an important source of Plant soils. Trees normally vary in height from food for a variety of wild animals, while 10 to 30 feet tall, but can reach heights of the acorns are consumed by deer, elk, 60 feet. The bark is gray and rough. The bear and turkey. The trees themselves leaves are about 5 inches long and easily also provide cover for wildlife. Gambel oak identified by several deep lobes. Bright contains tannic acid. Livestock that forage green and glossy on top, and paler and on the plants can experience poisoning sometimes hairy underneath, the leaves effects if it makes up more than 50% of the are smooth on the edges. The leaves do animals diet. American Indians soaked the not have spines, as do several of the other acorns to remove the tannic acid and used oak species. During the fall, the leaves them to thicken soup and make mush.

Tom DeGomez Tom turn yellow to red and drop from the tree. Wood from Gambel oak is valued for fence Kim McReynolds, Area Extension Acorns are held by a cup that encloses posts and firewood. Gambel oak is truly a Agent, Natural Resources, University of about half of the acorn. valuable Arizona plant for many reasons. Arizona Cooperative Extension, Cochise, Gambel oak is commonly found growing Featured Graham and Greenlee Counties in thickets. Although it reproduces from

Dr. William Gambel, the discoverer of this maintained over the years for in 1896, Harry Common Name: Gambel’s Quail appealing ground-dwelling bird, could hardly S. Swarth, a young scientist, on his first Scientific Name: Callipepla gambelii have asked for a more exciting and beautiful horse and wagon trip to southern Arizona, avian namesake. In spring, the male wrote that they “were rarely, if ever, out of Gambel´s Quail often perches atop a stump sight or hearing.” Although still common in or some other prominent lookout, his black some areas, their numbers do not begin topknot or plume whifflling in the breeze, to resemble the accounts of the early tilts his head back, and with closed eyes, naturalists. repeatedly sings his lovely song. At this time In 1841, William Gambel, a young he is seeking a mate while declaring his enthusiastic naturalist of nineteen from territory and warning off other males. Philadelphia, set out with a wagon train of Occurring throughout the year in the traders and trappers in search of new flora southern and western desert and grassland and fauna in the west. Among the many new regions of the state, Gambel´s Quail birds he noted was the first description of Bird generally begin laying eggs in early March a “handsome species” that “conspicuously and usually hatch 10 to 14 chicks per clutch. display the long crest.” He sent his complete The young are precocial, meaning they description to Thomas Nuttall, his mentor leave the nest almost immediately after and another great naturalist, who named hatching. In family coveys, they follow their it in Gambel´s honor. Returning east parents for protection in tight groups, as four years later, Gambel failed to gain a their mortality rate can be extremely high. desired position as curator at the Academy Fortunately, within several days the tiny of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. chicks become accomplished flyers and Undaunted, he qualified to practice often take to the wing to escape danger. medicine, married and then preceded his Adult birds, especially the males, are very bride to California with the intention of protective, sometimes losing their lives setting up a practice and further pursue his against predators in defense of their young. interests in natural history. Tragically, when With conditions uncertain and often undertaking the difficult crossing of the Featured far from normal, populations fluctuate Sierra Nevada en route to San Francisco, greatly, but some areas seem to retain their he contracted typhoid fever while caring for Dan L. Fischer numbers over the long haul by successfully sick gold miners, dying at the early age of fledging enough young to reach breeding only twenty-six in 1849. Even at his young Dan L. Fischer. Author of Early Southwest age the following year. When predation age, Gambel had already published and Ornithologists, 1528-1900, University of is high and shelter is removed by human made many new scientific discoveries. Arizona Press. activity or if drought conditions persist, Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) and populations drop, at times amounting to a Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii) also bear net loss. Their numbers have hardly been his name.  Backyards& Beyond