Wavy leaf oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wavy leaf oak |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Quercus
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| Species: |
welshii
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| Synonyms | |
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The wavy leaf oak, also known as shinnery oak or Tucker oak, is a type of shrub found in North America. Its scientific name is Quercus welshii. It belongs to the beech family. You can find this plant in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States.
Contents
What it Looks Like
How it Grows
The wavy leaf oak is a deciduous shrub. This means it loses its leaves every year. It usually grows to be about 2 to 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8 meters) tall.
Roots and Leaves
This plant has a very strong and wide root system. These roots help to hold the sandy soil in place in desert areas.
Its leaves are shaped like an oval or a spear. They have 6 to 10 wavy edges or lobes. The tips of the leaves are pointed. Sometimes, the leaves also have small teeth along their edges.
The leaves are small, about 1/2 to 2 inches (1.3 to 5 cm) long. When they are young, they have many tiny hairs on both sides. As the leaves get older, they become smooth.
Flowers and Acorns
The wavy leaf oak blooms, or produces flowers, from March to June. It has separate male and female flowers. These flowers grow in hanging clusters.
After the flowers, the plant produces Acorns. These acorns are about 1/2 to 3/4 inches (1.3 to 1.9 cm) long.
Where it Lives
You can find Quercus welshii in sandy desert areas. It grows in communities of sand desert shrubs. It also lives in sandy soils where blackbrush scrub and pinyon juniper woodland grow.
This plant is found in several states. These include Arizona, Utah, western Colorado, and northwestern New Mexico.
Interesting Facts
The wavy leaf oak was named after a person named Stanley L. Welsh. He was a botanist, someone who studies plants.
