Native oak trees are an ecological powerhouse for North America, a refuge and fueling station for countless thousands of species. An oak tree is a community.
For one of the best described review of Quercus, I do like A Natural History of Western Trees by Donald Peattie. Mine is a bit ragged now having survived from it's second printing in 1953. In 1967 it was gifted from the Watrous's (my great mentor was Mary Watrous who inspired me to do field study of geology in Connecticut. She also had worked at the American Museum of Natural History that I visited as a child) I found the book years later in Albuquerque at Title Wave Books.
Just take one of the oaks, the Rocky Mountain White Oak. His description includes the setting in Oak Creek Canyon, it's geology, it's ecological setting of Oak Creek with it's composite flowers and other tree species. Then the history of a naturalist named William Gambel who discovered this oak in his 23rd year adding to his list of perhaps 100 discoveries before his passing of typhoid fever at the age of 28. The alternative name given to this species is Gambel Oak. There is more Peattie gives the reader. He describes to the point that one can see the community interactions brought to life.
For one of the best described review of Quercus, I do like A Natural History of Western Trees by Donald Peattie. Mine is a bit ragged now having survived from it's second printing in 1953. In 1967 it was gifted from the Watrous's (my great mentor was Mary Watrous who inspired me to do field study of geology in Connecticut. She also had worked at the American Museum of Natural History that I visited as a child) I found the book years later in Albuquerque at Title Wave Books.
Just take one of the oaks, the Rocky Mountain White Oak. His description includes the setting in Oak Creek Canyon, it's geology, it's ecological setting of Oak Creek with it's composite flowers and other tree species. Then the history of a naturalist named William Gambel who discovered this oak in his 23rd year adding to his list of perhaps 100 discoveries before his passing of typhoid fever at the age of 28. The alternative name given to this species is Gambel Oak. There is more Peattie gives the reader. He describes to the point that one can see the community interactions brought to life.
This new book might be of interest. Henrik Sjöman and 1 more
The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits