California scrub oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California scrub oak |
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Quercus
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berberidifolia
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The California scrub oak (scientific name: Quercus berberidifolia) is a small, bushy tree or shrub. It's an evergreen plant, meaning it keeps its leaves all year, or sometimes it's semi-evergreen, losing some leaves in certain conditions. This type of oak belongs to the white oak group. You can find it growing naturally in the hilly, scrubby areas of California. It's a very common plant in what are called chaparral ecosystems.
Contents
About the California Scrub Oak
The California scrub oak usually grows to be about 1 to 2 meters (40 to 80 inches) tall. Sometimes, it can grow taller, reaching up to 4 meters (13 feet).
Leaves and Acorns
Its leaves are a dull green color and have sharp, jagged edges, like tiny teeth. They are about 1.5 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long and 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. The top of the leaves feels leathery, and the underside is a bit hairy.
The tree also produces brown acorns. These acorns are about 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long and 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. They are either pointed or egg-shaped and have thin caps. Acorns take about 6 to 8 months to grow fully after the plant is pollinated.
Where it Grows
In cooler places or areas that are more exposed to the wind, the California scrub oak often stays a small, compact shrub. But in warmer or more protected spots, it can spread out and grow several meters high.
The scientific name berberidifolia means "barberry-leaved." This name comes from the spiny (thorny) edges of its leaves, which look similar to the leaves of some Berberis plants, also known as barberry.
Other Scrub Oaks
This plant is often called simply scrub oak. However, this name can also refer to other types of Quercus (oak) species. Many of these were once grouped together under the name Q. dumosa. All these scrub oaks live in scrubby places.
Many other kinds of scrub-type oaks can be found in these regions. It takes careful looking to tell the difference between a California scrub oak and other similar species, especially those that are hybrids (a mix of two different species).
Chaparral Ecosystems
The word chaparral comes from the Spanish word chaparro, which means scrub oak. The general meaning of chaparro is 'short in height'.
Because most plants in scrub areas are quite low-growing, the term "chaparral" is used for all the plants found in these types of communities.
See also
In Spanish: Encinillo para niños
