Quercus pontica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Quercus
Section: Quercus sect. Ponticae
Species:
Q. pontica
Binomial name
Quercus pontica

Quercus pontica, the Pontine oak or Armenian oak,[2][3][4] is a species of endangered oak currently extant to the western Caucasus mountains of Georgia and northeastern Turkey where it grows at altitudes of 1,300–2,100 metres (4,300–6,900 feet).[5]

Description

Quercus pontica is a deciduous small tree or large shrub growing to 6–10 metres (20–33 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) in diameter and sparse, stout shoots. Its bark is grayish to purple-brown, smooth on young trees but becoming rough later in its life. Its leaves grow to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, rarely 35 cm, and 4–15 cm across. They are ovate, and have a serrated margin with numerous small, pointed teeth. The leaves are covered in hairs when they are young, but become smoother as they age. They become bright green later in life and turn yellow brown in autumn. The flowers are catkins, the male catkins 5–20 cm long. The fruit is a large acorn 2.5–4 cm long, produced in clusters of 2–5 together.

Taxonomy

The specific epithet pontica, refers to the Latin term for Pontus, a historical region near the Black Sea.[6] Quercus pontica is placed in section Ponticae.[7]

Cultivation

It is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in northern Europe.

References

  1. ↑ Strijk, J.S. & Carrero, C. (2020). "Quercus pontica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T194222A2304749. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T194222A2304749.en. Retrieved 23 September 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Brickell, Christopher (2019-10-01). Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-4654-9896-0.
  3. ↑ Wiersema, John H.; León, Blanca (1999-02-26). World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-2119-1.
  4. ↑ David More, John White, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees, (Timber Press Inc., 2002), 379.
  5. ↑ Christina Carrero (Morton Arboretum, Chicago; Genomics), Joeri Strijk (Alliance for Conservation Tree (2020-01-28). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Quercus pontica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  6. ↑ Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins, p. 280, at Google Books
  7. ↑ Denk, Thomas; Grimm, Guido W.; Manos, Paul S.; Deng, Min & Hipp, Andrew L. (2017). "Appendix 2.1: An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks" (xls). figshare. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5547622.v1. Retrieved 2023-02-18.

Other sources

  • Rushforth, K. D. Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins.
  • Coombes, A. J. Trees. Eyewitness Handbooks.


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