Garry oak (Qg) - Quercus garryana
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External Links Other external information on Garry oak
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BC Distribution of Garry oak (Qg)
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A savanna-like or grass-dominated Garry 0ak community on an upper, warm slope in the southern limit of the CDF zone in the Gulf Islands
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| Description |
In B.C., Garry oak is a tall shrub to small-sized, less often, medium-sized (<30 m ) deciduous broad-leaved tree, at maturity with a broad rounded crown, short, stout, and often forked stem, numerous twisted, gnarled, branches, and dark, grayish-brown, scaly bark, with narrow shallow furrows. In British Columbia, Garry oak is not grown for timber production; in fact, it is considered an endangered species as it grows mainly on private lands which are being developed for urban dwellings.
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Geographic Range
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Geographic element: Western North American/mainly Pacific and less Cordilleran Distribution in Western North America: central and south in the Pacific region; (central) and south in the Cordilleran region |
Ecological Amplitudes
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Climatic amplitude: (warm temperate) - cool and warm mesothermal Orographic amplitude: submontane - montane Occurrence in biogeoclimatic zones: CDF Edaphic Amplitude Range of soil moisture regimes: very dry - moderately dry - slightly dry – (fresh) Range of soil nutrient regimes: (poor) - medium - rich - very rich Based on field studies, Krajina (1969) concluded that soil melanization is more intensive in Garry oak ecosystems than in coniferous ecosystems. The uppermost, dark gray melanized soil horizon in the Garry oak ecosystems is only slightly acidic, and resembles prairie soils in colour, but with no calcification in the B horizon. Under these conditions there is active nitrification, as indicated by the frequent occurrence of Galium aparine L., Geranium molle L., and Dactylis glomerata L., understory species that require nitrate-N for their growth. Garry oak appears to require large quantities of calcium, similar to bigleaf maple or black cottonwood, and deposits this element in its bark. This is why some calciphytic bryophytes may inhabit the bark of Garry oak trees. |
| Root System Characteristics | Garry oak has a deep taproot and well-developed lateral roots, thus is very windfirm. Roots are associated with ecto- and endo-mycorrhizae. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tolerances |
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| Damaging Agents |
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| Associated tree species and successional role | In British Columbia, Garry oak grows in small, open-canopy stands or mixed-species stands, typically with common douglas, less often with Pacific madrone on warm-aspect, water-deficient sites on southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It is present in early, mid-, and late stages of secondary succession and can be present as a minor or major component in old-growth stands on a few sites in the CDF zone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Silvical Characteristics |
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Genetics and Notes
| Genetics | Though Garry oak populations in Oregon and Washington are disjunct and scattered, the chemical composition and morphological characteristics of their foliage are similar. Genetic differences appear to be minor. Garry oak hybridizes with Quercus dumosa Nutt., Q. douglasii Hook. & Arn., and Q. lobata Née. |
| Notes |
The largest cascara sagrada are found on very moist or wet and nitrogen-rich, coastal sites. The tea or syrup obtained from boiling the bark of cascara sagrada has been proved to be an effective laxative. The plant was also used by First Nations people as a medicine for washing sores and swellings and treating heart strain, internal strain, and biliousness. Although not grown for timber production, scattered trees and open-canopy Garry oak stands are highly valued scenic assets in wildlands, parks, and urban areas. Feasibility of managing Garry oak stands for truffle production is being investigated. More detailed silvics information is given by: Stein, W.I. 1990. Quercus garryana. Pp. 650-660 in R.M. Burns and B.H. Honkala (technical coordinators) Silvics of North America, Vol. 2. Agri. Handbook 654, USDA For. Serv., Washington, D.C. |