Quercus elliptica is a Mesoamerican species of oak tree. It is widespread across central and southern Mexico and Central America from Sinaloa and Hidalgo south as far as Nicaragua.[3][4][5][6] It is classified in Quercus sect. Lobatae.[7]

Quercus elliptica
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. Lobatae
Species:
Q. elliptica
Binomial name
Quercus elliptica
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Quercus atrescentirhachis Trel.
  • Quercus botryocarpa Trel.
  • Quercus chiquihuitillonis Trel.
  • Quercus coccinata Trel.
  • Quercus comayaguana Trel.
  • Quercus exaristata Trel.
  • Quercus guayabalana Trel.
  • Quercus hondurensis Trel.
  • Quercus lanceolata M.Martens & Galeotti ex A.DC.
  • Quercus langlassei Trel.
  • Quercus linguifolia Liebm.
  • Quercus nectandrifolia Liebm.
  • Quercus oajacana Liebm.
  • Quercus peradifolia E.F.Warb.
  • Quercus porriginosa Trel.
  • Quercus pubinervis M.Martens & Galeotti
  • Quercus salicifolia var. oajacana (Liebm.) Wenz.
  • Quercus yoroensis Trel.
  • Quercus yoroensis var. aguanana Trel.

Description

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Quercus elliptica is a tree growing up to 15 metres (49 feet) tall with a trunk as much as 70 centimetres (28 inches) in diameter. The leaves are thick and leathery, up to 12 cm (4+34 in) long, elliptical with wavy edges but no teeth or lobes.[3][8]

Habitat and range

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Quercus elliptica is found in oak forests, cloud forests, and pine–fir (Abies) forests from 300 to 2400 meters elevation. It is mostly restricted to granite soils. Quercus elliptica is often dominant and common where it is found.[1]

Quercus elliptica ranges across central and southern Mexico. Its range extends from the central Sierra Madre Occidental of Sinaloa in the northwest through western Nayarit, including Sierra de San Juan, and western Jalisco, including the Sierra de Vallejo and Sierra de Manantlán. It also ranges through the Sierra Madre del Sur and Sierra Madre de Oaxaca of Guerrero and Oaxaca states. There are populations in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of Michoacán and Mexico states. In Chiapas it is found in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and Chiapas Highlands, including Lagunas de Montebello National Park.[1]

There are only two citations in Guatemala, in the Sierra de las Minas and in Camotán. It is also found in the Maya Mountains of Belize, and in the highlands of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.[1]

Conservation

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Because of its wide range and abundant populations it is rated Least Concern. Despite habitat loss in parts of its range its population is considered stable.[1]

Phytophthora cinnamomi, the fungal parasite known as Sudden Oak Death, has been found in Quercus elliptica.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Jerome, D. (2018). "Quercus elliptica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T194125A2301797. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T194125A2301797.en. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. ^ Quercus elliptica Née. World Flora Online. Accessed 14 August 2022
  3. ^ a b Romero Rangel, S., E. C. Rojas Zenteno & M. L. Aguilar Enríquez. 2002. El género Quercus (Fagaceae) en el estado de México. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89(4): 551–593 in Spanish, with line drawings of each species
  4. ^ McVaugh, R. 1974. Flora Novo-Galiciana: Fagaceae. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 12(1,3): 1–93
  5. ^ García-Mendoza, A. J. & J. A. Meave. 2011. Diversidad Florística de Oaxaca: de Musgos a Angispermas 1–351. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria
  6. ^ Nelson Sutherland, C. H. 2001. Plantas descritas originalmente de Honduras y sus nomenclaturas equivalentas actuales. Ceiba 42(1): 1–71.
  7. ^ Denk, Thomas; Grimm, Guido W.; Manos, Paul S.; Deng, Min & Hipp, Andrew L. (2017-11-02). "Appendix 2.1: An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks" (xls). figshare. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  8. ^ Née, Luis 1801. Anales de Ciencias Naturales 3(9): 278 short diagnosis in Latin, description in Spanish
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