Sonoran oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonoran oak |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Quercus
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| Species: |
viminea
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| Synonyms | |
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Quercus bolanyosensis Trel. |
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Quercus viminea, also known as the Sonoran oak or Mexican willow oak, is a type of oak tree found in North America. It belongs to the beech family, which includes many well-known trees like oaks, beeches, and chestnuts. This tree is special because of its unique leaves and where it grows.
About the Sonoran Oak
The Sonoran oak is a fascinating tree. It can be either evergreen, meaning it keeps its leaves all year round, or drought-deciduous. Drought-deciduous means it might lose its leaves during very dry times to save water. This helps the tree survive in places where water can be scarce.
What It Looks Like
The Sonoran oak can grow quite tall, reaching up to 10 meters (about 33 feet). That's like a three-story building! Its leaves are long and narrow, shaped like a spear or a lance. They can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Imagine a leaf about the length of a typical pencil.
Where It Grows
This oak tree is native to a region that stretches from northwestern to west-central Mexico. You can find it in states like Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, and Jalisco. It mostly grows in a mountain range called the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sonoran oak's home also extends a little bit north into the United States, specifically into Santa Cruz County in southern Arizona. This shows how plants can cross borders and thrive in different areas.
