Gambel's oak in winter

Kuvaus:

This is one of my favorite stands of Quercus gambelii. This clone is on a north-facing slope and therefore receives a little more moisture and shade allowing it to become somewhat more aborescent than the scrub oak forms that are more exposed higher on the ridge above (with even taller, arborescent oaks present in the drainage at the bottom of this slope). A portion of the oaks just above this, i.e. to the right of this view) and closer to the ridge were burned about twelve years ago (from a lightning strike) but these plants were not directly impacted by that event. The plants are slow growing and their ability to expand vegetatively is a big part of their success although new plants do germinate from acorns and have been observed on the adjoining slope, but seedling survival rate (as with many/most plant species) is low. Because they spread via rhizomes it is difficult to determine how old a given clone might be. Individuals are thought to be able to live for 150+ years. But the clone it is connected to persists for a much longer time (assuming it is isn't damaged by the activities of people). USGS images show that this and adjoining clones were at this precise location in Feb. 1970 and they really have not changed/expanded much in the past 43 years. Some individuals then in this clone are conservatively probably at least 75 years old and probably much more; Gambel's oak clones have been likely growing on this slope for thousands of years.To the credit of some of the residential development (and residents) in the Olympus Cove area including around Oakridge Elementary, some significant stands of Gambel's oak have been preserved. Below the shoreline levels, however, they have been mostly not as well preserved yet they make excellent landscape plants. When found in suburbia, they should be retained and not exterminated. Digging should not occur within a wide perimeter around them.Gambel's oak is highly variable and while it can grow in completely open places, it tends to like a little bit of protection from the elements. Jan. 28, 2013, approx. 4865 ft. elev., Olympus Hills Park, Salt Lake County, Utah