Loquat leaf oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loquat leaf oak |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Quercus
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| Species: |
rysophylla
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| Synonyms | |
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Quercus rhysophylla Weath. |
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The loquat leaf oak (scientific name: Quercus rysophylla) is a special type of oak tree. It belongs to the group of "red oaks." You can find this tree growing in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in northeastern Mexico. It lives in states like Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, and Hidalgo.
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What Does It Look Like?
The loquat leaf oak is a very tall tree. It can grow up to 25 meters (about 82 feet) high. When the tree is young, its bark is smooth and light gray. As the tree gets older, its bark becomes rougher, darker gray, and has deep cracks.
Leaves and Acorns
The leaves of this oak tree are shaped like a lance, which means they are long and narrow. They can grow up to 21 centimeters (about 8 inches) long.
The acorns of the loquat leaf oak are interesting because they take a long time to ripen. They grow for two years! This means they ripen the year after the tree flowers.
Where Does It Live?
The loquat leaf oak likes to grow in places that are wet and humid. You can often find it in deep valleys called canyons. It also grows on mountain slopes that face north, where it's usually cooler and shadier.
Its Forest Home
This tree is part of special forests in Mexico. It lives in cloud forests, which are forests that are often covered in mist or clouds. It also grows in oak or oak–pine forests. These forests have many different types of oak and pine trees.
The loquat leaf oak can grow on different kinds of ground, including limestone and volcanic rocks. It usually lives at elevations from 500 to 1,700 meters (about 1,640 to 5,577 feet) above sea level.
Protected Areas
One of the biggest groups of loquat leaf oaks lives in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. You can also find this tree in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. These are protected areas that help keep the trees and their habitats safe.
How It Got Its Name
The loquat leaf oak was first described by a scientist named Charles Alfred Weatherby in 1910.
The Scientific Name
The scientific name Quercus rysophylla has a special meaning. The word "rysophylla" comes from two Greek words: rhysos, which means "wrinkled," and phyllon, which means "leaf." So, the name basically means "wrinkled leaf."
When Charles Weatherby first wrote the name, he spelled it "rysophylla." Later, some scientists thought it should be spelled "rhysophylla" to match the Greek word better. However, there are rules for naming plants. These rules say that the original spelling, even if it was a small mistake, should usually be kept. So, "rysophylla" is still the correct scientific spelling.
The Common Name
The tree got its common name, "loquat leaf oak," because its leaves look a lot like the leaves of another plant called the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). They have a similar shape and feel.
