News & Notes The Newsletter of the International Oak Society, Volume 18, No. 2, 2014

Mudding in : Oak Open Days, Saturday brought overcast skies and mild drizzle. Partici- June 27-29 pants toured a leased hunting property known locally as the Cotton Mill, just outside of West Point in all-terrain vehi- ain, mud, mosquitos, great , and wonderful peo- cles while being plagued by mosquitos. The first stop was R ple, all contributed to a successful Oak Open Day at a grove of Q. ×beadlei Trel. ex E. J. Palmer surrounded event held in Mississippi, June 27-29. Visitors from eight by Q. michauxii Nutt., Q. sinuata Walter var. sinuata and states gathered in West Point, MS for an event organized Carya carolinae-septentrionalis (Ashe) Engl. & Graebn. by Dudley Phelps and Chanterelle mushrooms Ryan Russell. The (Cantharellus cibarius tours included four Fr.) abounded in the venues, each with dis- undergrowth of these tinct variations in land- magnificent trees. scapes. From natural growth forests to unu- A late lunch at the sual urban trees; mani- Twisted Burger, a gas cured landscapes to a station turned restau- commercial nursery, rant, allowed the group participants experi- to visit and discuss the enced it all. trees they had seen. After lunch, the group Visitors gathered Fri- carpooled to several day evening at the trees within the city of Mossy Oak* Biologic West Point, as rain and Nativ Nurseries clouds gathered. The headquarters in West Mature Quercus alba × lyrata at the Westpoint Airport. Photo: Ryan Russell first afternoon stop was Point, for a rainy car- at a large Q. alba L. × lyrata Walter near the City Airport pool to the welcome reception held at a cabin built in 1832 on the northernmost edge of the property we had toured out of American chestnut. There we were greeted by Mossy that morning. This exhibits characteristics intermedi- Oak founder, Toxey Haas, and offered an impromptu ve- ate between each parent almost perfectly. The next stop hicular tour of the area surrounding the cabin, to marvel at was at the Mossy Oak brand licensing building in the mid- a mature Quercus falcata Michx. It is speculated that this dle of downtown. The tree here is a large Q. falcata × phel- tree is actually a , but while everyone agreed it was los L. that grows right on the property line and is divided beautiful, no conclusion was drawn about its parentage. by a privacy fence. This hybrid can be determined by the Once gathered back at the cabin, our group had supper con- rounded base, a characteristic of Q. falcata as opposed to sisting of grilled kebobs, salad, and rice prepared by Mossy the acute base of Q. pagoda Raf. seen in Q. ×ludoviciana Oak staff. Sarg. As we headed out of town for the last stop of the day, Oak News & Notes Sunday morning The day concluded with a visit to the dawned bright and Mossy Oak Nativ Nursery greenhouse, sunny as the group where Dudley Phelps walked us met in Starkville to through their process of collecting, tour the University growing, and mailing their seedlings. of Mississippi Each attendee was able to pick out a (MSU) campus. On seedling to take home. Attendees then campus we were said good-bye to old friends and new introduced to cam- friends, with promises to keep in touch pus extension arbor- and hopes to see each other at next ist, Jason Gordon. year’s conference in Chicago. MSU was founded A full account of the tours will be pub- in 1878 and covers The broad range of F2 seedlings from Quercus nigra × texana at Nativ lished in the upcoming edition of Inter- Nurseries. Photo: Ryan Russell 4,400 ac/1,480 ha, we made a slight detour to the home of which includes campus and several a friend of Mr. Haas where we saw a research farms throughout the state. young Q. ×moultonensis Ashe. This MSU was the second campus in the tree has been dubbed “The Generator” state of Mississippi to receive the Tree as it produces huge crops of Campus USA status. Jason stated that each year. After a short drive out of work on a campus tree inventory was town, with rain threatening, the group started in 2013 and is ongoing. stopped to view a handsome Q. The first tree we visited on campus ×neopalmeri Sudw. and a putative Q. was another mature Q. alba × lyrata. nigra L. × texana Buckley on a mani- This tree was the first tree that Nativ cured estate owned by Mr. Jimmy Bry- Nurseries began collecting from. At an. These trees have been determined first, it was thought to be a pure white by Dudley after years of growing seed- oak, but after careful observation of lings and observing traits of the parent seedlings and closer inspection to the tree. Both of these trees were bought parent tree, it was found to be a hybrid. from a local landscape company as Q. Quercus falcata × phellos. Photo: Ryan Russell We then stopped at a putative Q. stella- shumardii Buckley. After a long, tree- ta Wangenh. × virginiana Mill. After national . I would like to thank filled day, the majority consensus was several minutes of debate, no consen- the organizers, Dudley Phelps and as follows: shower, supper and bed. sus was reached as to its heritage. The Ryan Russell for an exciting and infor- next tree was a conundrum as well. mational OOD. I would also like to Planted along a row of Q. phellos, was extend a personal thank you to Toxey a tree that has stumped the Mossy Oak Hass, Vandy Stubbs, and Jesse Raley crew. It was finally decided that this of Mossy Oak, and Jason Gordon of tree was likely a Q. palustris Münchh.× MSU for their hospitality and partici- nigra. Further observation is needed to pation in this event. confirm the suspicion. The group was Tammie Russell astounded by a Q. macrocarpa Michx. that was planted in 1976. Many in the *Mossy Oak was founded in 1986 as a hunting cam- ouflage manufacturer and has expanded their lines to group would have dated it at 70-100 hunting equipment, Biologic, real estate, Nativ Nurse- years old if found in colder climates. ries, etc. The original camouflage design was based We then stopped at a mature specimen on the bark of Quercus margaretta (Ashe) Small .

Quercus similis Ashe at the Cotton Mill. Photo: of Q. nigra × pagoda. The intermediate Ryan Russell were quite beautiful. 2 Oak News & Notes A Visit to Plaček Quercetum were designed by Josef Kumpán, who for the Quercetum and that is hardi- had studied in Berlin. Research has ness. th n Tuesday 10 September 2013, turned up some of the original plans After we had strolled around the gar- O a group of International Den- showing not only the garden but also den, we set off into the Quercetum drology Society members on tour in cherry orchards. the Czech Republic visited Plaček proper. This is the land on either side Quercetum, property of IOS member Once we were seated in the garage, of the Robinia Allée. The plantation of Dušan Plaček . I was particularly look- which had been cleared for the occa- the oaks is organized according to the ing forward to this visit having met sion, Ondrej gave us a presentation on divisions once defined by Prantl Dušan six weeks earlier at the Sir Har- the past, present and future of the (Krüssman 1978): cerris, robur, albae, old Hillier Gardens during the IOS Quercetum, with additions from Josef rubrae, dentatae, gallifera, nigrae, Oak Open Day held there and been Soček, a dendrologist who works with phellos. All of the species that belong struck by his immense enthusiasm. Dušan, advising him and collecting for him. The property is about 50 ha/123 ac in total, with about 14 ha/34 ac of trees. The historic garden has been re- stored. The house looks out to a gener- ous lawn which has a fine selection of trees and planted around it, in- cluding weeping willow, birch, coni- fers and many other ornamental trees. Apparently many have had to be re- moved or pruned in order to restore the original effect. However, in between and round the edge, oaks have been Seedlings in the greenhouse awaiting a perma- Dušan showing a newly planted Quercus ilex in added, including some very tiny Quer- nent home. Photo: Harriet Tupper a protective cage. Photo: Harriet Tupper cus ilex L. grown from seed sent by We walked up the drive between aca- Thierry Lamant. Of the 30 seedlings to one of these groups are planted in cia trees to be met by Dušan and his that grew from Thierry’s acorns and the same area and for each species advisor, Ondrej Fous, who had also were planted out, only about five or six within a group the botanic taxon is been at Hillier Gardens. They wel- survived. They have been planted un- central with its hybrids and comed us with a glass of wine and der and around the larger trees to give planted around it. The goal is to have Dušan explained a little of the back- them protection from the cold. This trees of known provenance from the ground. At 25 he had been living in a illustrates perfectly the main difficulty wild, but in the meantime Dušan city near Prague but wanted a place the best he can get until he can “trade with a garden, in itself unusual for up.” I greatly admire his discipline in someone of this age. Apparently the planting with plenty of space between first plants that aroused his interest trees and between groups of trees. I do were aquarium plants, which he sold wonder if he will be able to bring him- alongside goldfish. Now he was defi- self to sacrifice some early planting for nitely after something much more sub- the sake of better provenance! stantial. After quite a search in 1998 he There are several hundred different bought a house and land about 60 oaks already growing here, all well km/37 mi east of Prague. This was a cataloged and labeled. I will not at- house and garden dating from the tempt a comprehensive list here, but 1930s, when it was built to be the the full story of Plaček Quercetum is to home of an interior minister (Josef Quercus marilandica Münchh. Photo: Harriet Tupper appear in the next issue of Internation- Černý ) and his wife. The grounds 3 Oak News & Notes Member Spotlight: he saw my nascent collection of trees Christine Battle he was keen to introduce me to a friend of his who at that time was working at his issue of Oak News & Notes Hillier Gardens – Allen Coombes. He T turns its spotlight on UK member was so kind and generous with his Christine Battle, who we could de- time, and was so enthusiastic about scribe as a “quercus double-threat”: Quercus that I couldn’t help but be oak collector and botanical artist— enthused in my turn. And then he sent with several exquisite watercolors of me some wild-collected acorns from a oaks in her portfolio. recent collecting trip in Taiwan. Just Her oak collection stands in Congrove holding these extraordinary seeds in L. ‘Timuki’. Photo: Béatrice , site of a recent Oak Open my hand was enough to fire my imagi- Chassé. Day (see p. 6). When she and her hus- nation, and then they started germinat- al Oaks following Béatrice Chassé’s ing – wow! I was well and truly three-day visit there in June 2014, so hooked.” reader curiosity will be satisfied! An Asked to single out favorite species oak that I found especially interesting she confesses a weakness for the was a of a hybrid between Q. “wondrously rich, red, felty new falcata Michx. and Q. rysophylla growth” of Mexican oaks, in particular Weath., Q. ‘Zehra’ (a name only provi- Q. crassifolia Bonpl. And there are sionally accepted because it was pub- others: “An oak new to my collection lished without a description). Dušan is which I think is just delightful is the particularly fond of Q. velutina Lam. modest Q. hypoleucoides… modest, and its hybrids, many of which are ra- that is, until you turn over the and ther striking, for example Q. see why it is known as the silverleaf ×willdenowiana (Dippel) Beissn., oak. In fall, the red oaks come into Schelle & Zabel, a hybrid with Q. fal- their own and I am always dazzled by cata. After a methodical walk through the varying colors to be found on just the Quercetum, we were taken into the one tree. Q. phellos is particularly fine greenhouse, which is thick with young and its dying leaves offer every shade oaks, some not hardy enough to ven- Christine Battle standing by a Cunninghamia from lemon yellow through shrimp ture outdoors. I was glad to see Q. in- lanceolata ‘Glauca’. Photo: Roderick Cameron pink to bright orange and vermillion. signis M. Martens & Galeotti growing band Ben acquired the property, they Last but not least is Q. imbricaria in such a way that you could still see discovered that it had been a Victorian the enormous from which it arboretum. Delighted with the discov- sprouted. ery, they decided to restore and devel- It seems that not all the orchards have op it, adding thousands of trees, espe- gone, because to round off an inspiring cially oaks, of which over 200 taxa visit, Dušan offered us some slivovitz have been planted. made from his own plums. “It was an accident that lead me to col- Harriet Tupper lect oaks above other genera,” says Christine, “although if you visit Con- grove Arboretum you will find quite a diverse collection of plants. I’d invited

a great friend of ours down for the weekend, James MacEwen, and when Q. repanda Bonpl. Photo: Roderick Cameron

4 Oak News & Notes As Christine works mainly on com- most exquisite red or carmine indu- mission, her clients tend to dictate mentum, so I try to make a “thing” of what she draws. She has drawn two features like that. And of course acorns oaks so far (Q. guyavifolia H. Lév. and are delightful objects in themselves, Q. monimotricha (Hand.-Mazz) Hand.- and so diverse amongst the genus.” Mazz), but there are more in the pipe- Congrove Arboretum was recently line. “Now that I’m illustrating more sold, as Christine and Ben decided to for Curtis, I paint what is required by move to be closer to family, but they the editor, although Martyn Rix is very are confident that the new owners will understanding of my passion for Quer- cherish the trees. In the meantime, we cus, and has commissioned me to paint hope Christine will have plenty of time some oaks. I am currently working on to draw more oaks! Q. lamellosa and Q. rysophylla, both Artwork by Christine Battle of Quercus You can read further about Christine’s monimotricha. very exciting species.” art and Congrove Arboretum in the Oaks present certain challenges to the which, in my opinion, gives pleasure at Articles section of the IOS website. botanical artist due to their size: in or- nearly every time of year. It has an der to paint life-size, as is tradition in Roderick Cameron attractive shape, lovely bark and the leaves turn glorious shiny shades of Species Spotlight: red, magenta and burgundy in the fall.” Quercus georgiana M.A. Curtis Though Christine had always been in- eorgia oak is known from 15 terested in plants, she only took up counties in and possibly botanical drawing late in life, on re- G small pockets in , with an un- ceiving in 2006 a two-day botanical art verified report in North Carolina. One drawing course as a birthday present. of these locations is Stone Mountain, She had had no formal training in bota- just northeast of Atlanta, GA. The base ny other than school science lessons, of Stone Mountain stands at 1,000 but that has not been an impediment: ft/305 m in elevation rising to over “I guess I was always fascinated by 1,600 ft/488 m at the summit. plants and growing things, so what I Quercus hirtifolia M. L. Vázquez et al. Photo: learned back then stuck with me. But it Roderick Cameron Taking the foot trail leading up the east is important in my line of work to botanical art, it is important to focus on side of the mountain, the flora at the know at least the basics of struc- the right detail. For Christine the chal- bottom includes species such as Calli- ture, reproduction, etc. It’s particularly lenge is to find an interesting branch or carpa americana L., Vaccinium arbo- important to get details right; like the twig that shows the features a botanist angle of the leaves on the stem, or the would expect to find, but that also has number of stamens in a . These artistic value. “I try to imbue each can all be diagnostic features – ele- plant I paint with “wall appeal”—with ments a botanist will use to identify the varying success I might add. Oaks tend specimen, so you don’t want to get to be modest plants, with a few notable anything wrong! Just painting what exceptions – such as Q. insignis with you see is fine for a plant portrait, but its showy great leaves – so I have to for a scientific illustration – for focus on other attractive aspects. For Curtis’s Botanical Magazine for in- instance the new spring growth on stance – it’s vital to ensure that every- most oaks is absolutely delightful, and thing is correct.” some of the young shoots of Mexican Quercus georgiana growing out of a granite fis- oaks in particular are covered in the sure. Photo: Ryan Russell 5 Oak News & Notes trail and the landscape eventually turns Congrove Arboretum to pure granite. Q. georgiana found on The first event, a visit to Christine Bat- Stone Mountain survive in small fis- tle’s Congrove Arboretum, started a sures in the solid granite which slowly few miles from there, at Manor Farm fills with bits of granite, and broken- Shop, a lovely place that is at once an down leaf litter. Elsewhere, they are organic grocery shop, café, restaurant, found on granite flat rock ridges on the and campsite, where we enjoyed a de- Piedmont Plateau. licious buffet lunch with a grand finale Georgia oaks are beautiful, small trees of scrumptious strawberries and cream. with wonderful fall color, ranging from Congrove Cottage has “tree” written in bright reds to vibrant yellows. Q. geor- its destiny. Before Christine and her Range of fall color in Quercus georgiana seed- giana is surprisingly hardy beyond its lings. Photo: Ryan Russell husband Ben arrived it was already an native range, growing well into USDA reum Marshall, Quercus nigra L., and arboretum that Christine then devel- zone 5. Georgia oak from other sites Pinus virginiana Mill. Nearing 1,100 oped enormously, and now, as Chris- may form an upright tree with a single ft/335 m in elevation, dense stands of tine and Ben are leaving, the new mas- leader and grow to 30 ft/9 m tall*. Ob- Pinus taeda L. emerge along with Q. ter of Congrove, Tamburlaine Gorst, is taining acorns or seedlings from this marilandica Münchh. and Rhus copal- also very enthusiastic about trees. This species may prove difficult, but if giv- linum L. A little further up the side of day was Christine’s farewell to Con- en the opportunity, it is a species de- the mountain (nearing 1,200 ft/366 m) grove at the same time as it was a wel- serving of a place in your collection. are a few Q. georgiana and putative come to Tam. hybrids between Q. nigra and Q. geor- Ryan Russell Christine Battle has been a member of giana, along with Diospyros virgini- *Some believe this habit is due to introgression from the International Oak Society for ana L., Vitis rotundifolia Michx., and other species. many, many years and she was instru- Andropogon virginicus L. Around Did you know? mental in organizing members to pool 1,300 ft/396 m are stands of pure Q. their resources to enable expeditions georgiana and several Q. montana Q uercus robur L. has the largest looking for new species. Many oak Willd. Many of the Georgia oaks on number of cultivars selected collections would not be as rich as they Stone Mountain are no larger than 3 (around 256 to date) for any one spe- are today if not for her commitment to ft/1 m tall, but a few are nearly 20 ft/6 cies. Some of the oldest cultivars date this initiative. m in height with a stem diameter of 6 back over 200 years. Forms of Q. ro- Carpooling after lunch took us down in/15 cm. Approaching the peak, the bur have been selected for leaf color, tiny little roads that wind through thick plant communities begin to divide into leaf shape, branching habit, dwarf hab- small pockets along the sides of the it, fastigiated habit, etc. There are three recognized groups (Pendula, Fastigi- ata, and Heterophylla) and six subspe- cies. Oak Open Days in Gloucestershire, UK July 6-7, 2014 nexpectedly sunny weather U greeted 38 participants as they arrived in Upton Cheyney for the start of two days of marveling at oaks - young and old - in Gloucestershire. Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey. × cerris L. at Quercus georgiana showing fall color. Photo: Leigh Delamere House. Photo: Charles Snyers Ryan Russell 6 Oak News & Notes the first day with a wineglass-in-hand through an area where several venera- visit of participant Harriet Tupper’s ble oaks – Q. robur L., Q. pyrenaica garden at Leigh Delamere House. Har- Willd., and Q. ×hispanica Lam. – can riet is Chairman of the International be seen. Society and also a long- In the oak collection, a Q. macrocarpa standing member of the IOS. There are Michx. without the characteristic deep many nice oaks here – but so many sinus but with the characteristic bark other wonderful plants as well so that gave Eike Jablonski the opportunity to it was a treat to look at beautiful flow- explain to us that this variation (along ers, shrubs and other non-oak marvels. with very small acorns) is characteris- We had a very interesting discussion, tic of the most northern populations of provoked by three trees that Harriet this species and used to be distin- The garden at Congrove. Photo: Charles Snyers has labelled as Q. castaneifolia C.A. guished from the type under the name vegetation that create a mysterious am- Mey that are possible hybrids with Q. Q. macrocarpa subsp. oliviformis (F. biance in this stunning countryside. As cerris L. Each tree, grown from acorns Michx) A. Camus. we drive the last hundred meters it be- collected from the same tree in Iran, comes apparent that someone has been The day was marked with thought- planting many special trees here. A provoking discussions on various sub- vast majority of the oaks are wild- jects including strategies for maintain- collected botanic species, undoubtedly ing collections, how to promote inter- the influence of Allen Coombes, whom est in gardens as well as the morpho- Christine met thanks to James Mac- logical differences noticeable between Ewen, IOS member, close collaborator trees in cultivation in different coun- of hers, and our guide for the day. tries. This is largely due to the fact that the horticultural trade in different The most surprising trees that are countries often do not have the same growing here are Q. insignis M. Mar- provenances for either scions or seeds. tens & Galeotti, Q. germana Schltdl. & This is strikingly exemplified by the Q. Cham., Q. xalapensis Bonpl., and two Q. canariensis Willd. at Westonbirt. Photo: canariensis Willd. commonly planted Q. corrugata Hook. They were planted Charles Snyers in the UK and which differs signifi- together in a very sheltered area in was remarkably different: two of them cantly from the form most often seen 2012 and have thus survived two win- with obvious cerris characteristics on the continent. ters, albeit mild ones (during which whilst the third had none. they are protected, as are about 15 oth- er species). Westonbirt, the National Arboretum I first visited with Christine in 2007 The following day our rendezvous is and it was a great pleasure for me to 140 km/87 mi north at Westonbirt, see how Congrove Arboretum has de- where we are greeted by our guides for veloped in the intervening years. We the day, Dan Crowley and Hugh An- all look forward to going back there in gus, as well as by Simon Toomer, who, another seven. though he could not spend the day, took the time to welcome us. The Leigh Delamere House morning is devoted to the oak collec- The official program of this event in- tion in the newer part of the arboretum, cluded Congrove Arboretum followed where the planting started during the by Westonbirt, the National Arbore- second half of the 20th century. To get tum. The cherry on the top, or rather, 'Polar Bear' at Westonbirt. Photo: to that part of the arboretum we walk Charles Snyers in the middle, was an invitation to end 7 Oak News & Notes The start of the afternoon visit to the the Southern Hemisphere of Northern lished in 1998 by then curator Garry older part of the arboretum required Hemisphere plants, and is a fine exam- Clapperton, the Arboretum provided rain coats and umbrellas, but these are ple of ex situ conservation. In fact, one three local nurseries with over ten quickly cast away as the sun reappears of the forces driving Cook to import thousand acorns of red and scarlet oak, to light up this spectacular example of and collect especially a landscaped arboretum with more plants was the latter: than 150 years behind it and a dynamic his belief “The scarlet staff and strategy to lead it through at that the Cold oak has at- least the next 150 years. War would tracted the lead to a nu- nurseries in Of the recent oak introductions to Eu- clear confla- particular. rope, Q. acutifolia Née, Q. acherdo- gration that So many phylla Trel., Q. gravesii Sudw., and Q. would de- acorns have mexicana Bonpl. are doing well here. stroy the left here A very healthy, 5 m/14 ft tall Q. ponti- European over the last ca K. Koch was quite lovely to see with gardens and ten years its bright yellow petioles and rich nurseries he that the au- green leaves. (Douglas ex Hook.) so admired. tumn face of Hjelmq., a North American member of As world New Zea- the family and a rare tree in powers land in an- cultivation, was interesting to see espe- stocked nu- on the edge of the Top Lawn in the Homestead other thirty cially as it was fruiting! Garden, one of the oldest recorded trees in the arboretum. Pho- clear war- to: website years is go- Many thanks to Christine Battle, James heads, he ing to be a MacEwen, Harriet Tupper, Hugh An- stockpiled ornamental plants in the brighter and deeper red.” Mr. Appleton gus, Dan Crowley, Shaun Haddock, hope that they would serve as a reposi- also mentions how well oaks endure and all of the participants in these most tory from which plants could be rein- drought in the arboretum’s ash soils (or pleasant Gloucestershire days. A more troduced to the Northern Hemisphere. rather, as he defines them, “growing detailed account will be published in Of the many trees in Eastwoodhill’s mediums”), remaining bright green the next issue of International Oaks. collection, we will focus on our favor- when all around other trees are wilting. ite genus. He speculates that the deep roots of Béatrice Chassé established oaks are able to reach There are over 880 oaks in the collec- through the 1.30 m/3.3 ft top layer of The Oaks at Eastwoodhill tion, representing 81 taxa. Several of pumice and rhyolitic ash to the weath- astwoodhill is the National Arbo- these are on the IUCN red list for oaks, E retum of , located adding another layer of interest to on the East Coast of the North Island them. The oldest were acquired by 35 km/22 mi northwest of Gisborne. Douglas Cook and include splendid There is not space here to discuss the examples of scarlet oak (Quercus coc- history of the arboretum, including the cinea Münchh.), which provide some colorful life of its creator Douglas of the best color in autumn, East- Cook and the important cataloging woodhill’s most attractive season. One work carried out by IOS-member Bob of the oldest trees in the arboretum is a Berry of Hackfalls (see Oak News & scarlet oak in the Homestead Garden, Notes, Vol. 15, No. 1, Winter 2011), featured on their website under “Stars but you can find these stories in the in the Park”. Oaks were one of Cook’s full-length version of this article on the favorite genera and a scarlet oak leaf

IOS website. Eastwoodhill, with over was chosen as the Arboretum’s em- Rich autumn colors predominate in April and 3,600 taxa, has the largest collection in blem. According to an article pub- May at Eastwoodhill. Photo: Gary Clapperton 8 Oak News & Notes ered sandstone and mudstone that re- Landry, . The St. Landry oak tain moisture through droughts. is unusual in that it is semi- and holds its leaves through most of I asked Ben Lyte, current curator at the winter though it will drop the Eastwoodhill, to highlight some of the leaves if very cold. The Eastwoodhill oaks in his care and he chose three specimen was planted in 1949 and has oaks in the arboretum as being particu- grown very fast, now reaching over 30 larly noteworthy and representative of m/98 ft. The tree has amazing arching the reason for the collection: limbs that are broadly spreading with “Q. lamellosa Sm.: a native of the large scaffold lateral branches reaching , discovered in 1812 in India over 20 m/66 ft. This specimen is a by Buchanan-Hamilton, a Scottish fine example of the rapid growth that Quercus durifolia at Eastwoodhill. Photo: Ben Lyte can be achieved by temperate trees in a ing over 3 m/10 ft from introduction in benign climate. However, it has had a 1993. It is an evergreen species, with lot of work carried out on it over the fine, narrow glossy green leaves grow- years, with limbs removed to prevent ing on a sunny, exposed southerly failure in the future. It provides a good slope. The soils at Eastwoodhill are talking point on tours, when asking predominantly ash, subject to dry sum- visitors to estimate its age. A similar mers and wetter winters, so perhaps sized tree in the Northern Hemisphere not ideal for excellent tree growth. would probably be around 200 years However, once established, they will old. Certainly, this is an area that re- survive most conditions. quires some considerable research, as many of the European and North Quercus lamellosa at Eastwoodhill. Photo: Ben Lyte “Q. ×ludoviciana Sarg.: the St. Landry American trees are starting to achieve Oak, one of the jewels in the crown of physician and botanist. Sir Joseph maturity across New Zealand.” the arboretum. This oak is a naturally Hooker described it as the noblest of occurring hybrid (of Q. phellos L. and It is interesting to note that in his cata- all oaks. The leaves can reach up to 45 Q. pagoda Raf.) described in 1913, in log (1976 update), listed the cm/18 in long in the wild, which oak with a height of 18 m/50 ft and matches a specimen collected by diameter of 68 ¼ cm/26.9 in, and not- Hooker in . It also has fine ed: “A fine specimen. The most vigor- acorns, which are large and flattened ous oak at Eastwoodhill.” with rings forming on the cups. The specimen in the arboretum is our only A complete list of Quercus in the col- example, and is still relatively small in lection can be accessed on the IOS stature at around 4 m/13 ft. It was website. Given the risk to oak habitat planted out in 1989 from seed collect- posed by climate change, Douglas ed by Alan Jellyman in . The Cook’s vision of his arboretum as a specific epithet means layered, which repository for threatened plants gains possibly alludes to the , but this is new significance. It is hoped that East- supposition on my part. woodhill’s oaks will continue to thrive and delight and be an integral part of “Q. durifolia Seemen ex. Loes.: the its founder’s dream. Mexican Emory Oak, from seed in western Durango, Mexico by Bob Ber- Roderick Cameron ry. Again, we only have the one plant in the arboretum, but this is taking off Quercus ×ludoviciana at Eastwoodhill. Photo: a lot quicker than Q. lamellosa, achiev- Courtesy Eastwoodhill Arboretum

9 Oak News & Notes WE NEED YOUR HELP west to , with disjunct popula- Béatrice Chassé, Arboretum des tions in Mexico. Pouyouleix he IOS is a small organization th Antonio González-Rodríguez, T with limited financial means. It 8 International Oak Universidad Nacional Autónoma de traditionally relies on volunteers for its Society Conference México management as for nearly everything it October 18-21, 2015 Jennifer Juzwik, U. of Minnesota undertakes. Matthew Kaproth, U. of Minnesota e are excited to announce that We need help to reinforce the Website The Morton Arboretum in Antoine Kremer, INRA-BIOGECO and Finance Committees. W Lisle, Illinois will host the next Inter- Sara Oldfield, Botanic Gardens We would like to redesign our main national Oak Society Conference from Conservation International website www.internationaloaksociety.org October 18 to 21, 2015. The meeting Ken Oyama, Universidad Nacional so that it can be viewed on will be particularly meaningful, as it Autónoma de México smartphones and on tablets. We would st marks the 21 anniversary of the first Greg Paige, The Bartlett Arboretum also like to undertake a complete rede- IOS Conference held at the Morton in Ian Pearse, Illinois Natural History sign of our website www.oaknames.org. 1994. Survey If the words or acronyms Drupal, The Conference program will reflect CMS, MySQL mean anything to you, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Notre the region’s keen interest in oaks, in- Dame University or if you have an opinion on what oak- cluding: current research on oak ecolo- names.org should look like or what its Joseph Rothleutner, The Morton gy, natural history and evolution, for- Arboretum content should be, please consider vol- est ecology, biodiversity and conserva- unteering to help us with this task. Victoria Sork, UCLA tion; selection and propagation; culti- Guy Sternberg, Starhill Forest Ar- Likewise, we need to reinforce the Fi- vation; pests and diseases; and of boretum nance Committee that oversees financ- course stellar field trips to observe Weibang Sun, Kunming Botanical es and membership management. Not oaks both in garden and wild settings. Garden only do we need assistance now, we Hands-on workshops will be a new also anticipate changes that might take feature in this conference. Confirmed Christina Walters, USDA Plant Germplasm Preservation Research place in 2015. If you have some finan- speakers include: Unit, Colorado State U. cial skills in accounting for non-profit Janet Backs, University of Illinois- organizations or in membership man- Murphy Westwood, The Morton Chicago Arboretum agement, please consider joining the Jeannine Cavender Bares, U. of committee. Minnesota Contact us at: [email protected].

Charles Snyers Did you know? he oak species with the largest T continuous range in North Ameri- ca is Q. macrocarpa Michx.; ranging from New England west to Nebraska, and Manitoba south to Texas. Howev- er, the species with the largest natural range in North America is Q. muehlen- bergii Engelm.; ranging from Quebec Participants at the inaugural IOS Conference at The Morton Arboretum in 1994. Photo: south to Florida, and New England Guy Sternberg

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The Indiana Dunes along Lake Michigan, first stop on the Post-Conference Tour, less than 30 mi/50 km from downtown Chicago and only a few miles from the international shipping Port of Indiana. Photo: Jim Hitz

The Pre-Conference Tour is scheduled The five-day Pre-Conference Tour will Tour leaders: Guy Sternberg and Ala- for October 13 through 17, and the explore Southern and Central Illinois, na McKean, with Henry "Weeds" Ei- Post-Conference Tour is scheduled for including oak habitats ranging from lers. October 22 through 24. Registration classic southern Taxodium swamps to 2015 Post-Conference Tour and call for posters will open in March sandstone ridges and canyons, flat- 2015. Mark your calendars, and start woods communities, mesic and ripari- Event Date: Thursday, 22 October marking trees for acorn collecting! De- an forests, barrens, sand prairie, and 2015 to Saturday, 24 October 2015 tailed information will follow in the savannas. We will stay at rustic but 2015 Post-Conference tour will take us spring newsletter, but if you just can’t comfortable lodges along the way and to some excellent native landscapes wait, contact Megan Dunning travel for five days from St. Louis, along the South Lake Michigan region ([email protected]) or Andrew down through the Illinois of Indiana and Michigan. The Indiana Hipp ([email protected]). Ozarks and then gradually move north- Dunes National Lakeshore is home to east more than 400 mi/640 km to The Pre-Conference Tour Cowles Bog and Pinhook Bog. Cowles Morton Arboretum. We expect to see Bog is actually a fen in the dunes while Event Date: Tuesday, 13 October to about 20 native species and nothospe- Pinhook Bog is an acid bog that is Saturday, 17 October, 2015 cies of oaks (plus hundreds of others in unique in the region. Black oak is the cultivation at Starhill Forest), includ- dominant oak in this area along with ing some state and national champion some red oak, white oak, and Hill’s specimens as well as their companion oak. In Southwest Michigan, Warren species. One evening will be spent Woods is the last remaining untouched with local wines at the famous beech/ forest in this part of the Longshadow Gardens and another with country. Fernwood Botanic Garden a private candlelight tour of the histor- will be host for lunch one day with ic village where Abraham Lincoln time to enjoy some unique plant com- lived. We also will visit Lincoln's munities along the St. Joseph River. th Tomb, during the 150 anniversary Other stops will include pin oak bot- year of his death. Autumn color, while toms forest and more sites yet to be variable in timing, should be in full determined. Our first evening will be display, and it will be seed season for in New Buffalo, Michigan, along the oaks! The trip must be restricted to the Lake Michigan shoreline. It is a great first 50 applicants due to limited avail- place to relax and stroll along the able lodging and transportation. beach in October. The tour is limited to One of the stops along the Pre-Tour. Photo: Guy Sternberg

11 Oak News & Notes 50 people so plan to sign up early to be sent to Diana Gardener at or if you would like to contribute con- reserve your place. [email protected] or, Diana tent to the website but are not sure how Gardener, 409 95th Avenue NE, Salem to do this, please contact, Roderick Tour leader: James Hitz OR 97317-7607, USA. Cameron at Acorn Collecting for the 2015 IOS [email protected] The International Oak Society Service Conference Awards honor individuals (non- Looking forward to seeing you all in Planning on participating in the seed members as well as members of the Illinois in 2015! exchange at the 2015 IOS Conference? Society) who have devoted significant Béatrice Chassé For everything you need to know, visit long-term efforts to the genus Quercus http://systematics.mortonarb.org/IOS2015/ and or the advancement of the goals of Miscellaneous or watch for details in the spring news- the IOS. There are two types: the Life- letter. time Service Award (for individuals ur oak database oaknames.org has received some badly needed up- From the Board that are retired from their professions) O and the Special Service Award. Nomi- dates, including new cultivars pub- s we move towards the end of nations for both should be sent to the lished in issue No. 24 of International A 2014 the most important thing IOS Secretary, Gert Fortgens at Oaks. Many more have been added as th on our minds is the 8 International [email protected] a result of searching websites, horticul- Oak Society Conference that will be along with a note specifying the rea- ture publications, and trademarks and held at the Morton Arboretum (Lisle, sons for the nomination. plant patents. However, this is an ever- Illinois) just a little over a year from changing process and we will strive to It is always difficult to choose a venue now. Preliminary information about stay as current as possible. Several for the triennial conference with an the Conference and the Pre- and Post- new selections are in preparation now ideal combination of accessibility for Conference Tours are already available and should be unveiled at the Triennial those wishing to participate, a signifi- on the Society website. The Confer- Conference in 2015. cant number of oak species to be seen ence Committee expects to open regis- in the wild, and interesting collections As always, we look forward to your tration in March 2015. to visit. We would like to ask the contributions of articles or ideas for Associated with this event are three membership what their preference articles for all of our media, Oak News important moments in the life of our would be for the locations we are now & Notes, International Oaks, and Society: the election of candidates for considering: California, Belgium, Tur- internationaloaksociety.org. If you have the new Board that will serve from key, an Eastern European country, Tai- an idea or article you would like to 2015-2018, the attribution of the IOS wan, or South Korea. If you are think- contribute, see the contact information Service Awards and the announcement ing about attending the conference in below. of the venue for the following triennial 2018, please take the time to send your conference (2018). opinion, also to Gert at the e-mail ad-

Diana Gardener has volunteered to dress given above. continue organizing and overseeing the Our newly formed Website Commit- Points of Contact election procedures, as she has done tee is eager to recruit volunteers with since 2006 when she took over these technical knowledge to help in the Submissions for the Newsletter responsibilities from Rudy Light. Once running and maintenance of the web- Ryan Russell - Roderick Cameron again, we are grateful to her for assum- site. Also, there are many ways to ing this important and time-consuming participate in the life of the Society [email protected] task that she fulfills so meticulously. If through the website forums and Submissions for the Journal you are interested in being a candidate, blogs. If you would like to join the Béatrice Chassé - Allen Coombes a short biography and letter explaining Website Committee please contact [email protected] your motivation and what it is you feel Charles Snyers at you could offer to the Society should [email protected]

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