Of the approximately 600 species of oaks worldwide, roughly 21 are native to California, organized into three groups: the red oaks (sometimes called black oaks), the golden oaks (or intermediate oaks), and the white oaks. This talk will focus on understanding the recent historical identities of the surviving Santa Clara County oaks.
Besides learning about the oaks that surround us, Al will also talk about these and other oak mysteries:
Where does the blue oak group fit into the red/golden/white oak scheme? (So chromatically confusing!!)
Are native California oaks super-closely related to oaks anywhere else in the world, or are they something special?
Is it tricky to apply a specific scientific name to a California oak tree? (Spoiler alert: can be!)
Please join Al as he shares parts of his journey examining the many mysteries of California oaks.
Al Keuter’s sleuthing into oak mysteries began in 2013. Since then, he’s ventured ever deeper into the science of leaf and fruit measurements, joining with DNA scientists in publishing three scientific papers exploring California red oak evolution and development.
While volunteering as a curator at the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he has generated 40,000+ images, and made 900 collections of fruit and leaves from more than 500 oak trees in 38 California counties. He has also accumulated a personal oak reference library of 700+ books and manuscripts dating back to the 1600s.
Sun Mar 23 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Bird and Plant ID Walk at Lake Cunningham Park (San Jose) |
Mon Mar 24 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM Calochortus Treasure Hunt, Parts I & II Two talks by Dee Himes |
Tue Mar 25 Online Plant Sale |
Tue Mar 25 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM Native Plant ID |
Wed Mar 26 Online Plant Sale |
Thu Mar 27 Online Plant Sale |
Thu Mar 27 @10:00AM - 02:00PM Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve Flora Walk (Bonny Doon) |
Fri Mar 28 Online Plant Sale |
Fri Mar 28 @ 9:00AM - Edgewood Restoration |
Fri Mar 28 @ 7:00PM - 08:50PM Photography Group - Photo Sharing Meeting |