California/Coast Live Oak by

California/Coast Live Oak

angelabottarini — 2013-03-27 18:41:27 UTC

Quercus Agrifolia

Classification and Evolution

angelabottarini — 2013-03-27 18:41:40 UTC

This tree is in the genus Quercus, which is over 12 million years old and includes oak trees and over 600 species! Oak trees developed bark to limit water loss and protect the tree. Oak trees are classified into groupings by qualitative characteristics like leaf size and shape, bark color, and acorn characteristics. The species agrifolia, common name Coastal Live Oak, includes oak trees with dark grey bark, flowers in the spring, and thrive in temperate, coastal climates. The root "agri-" from the species name means fierce, as the leaves evolved to become prickly around the edges. ("Quercus agrifolia: Coast")("Oaks")("Quercus agrifolia Tree").

Native

angelabottarini — 2013-03-27 18:42:46 UTC

This tree is native to North America and is especially common in California, since the state is on the coast and the Oak thrives in a temperate, coastal climate.("Oak Flowers")

How does the California/Coast Live Oak fit into the world?

angelabottarini — 2013-03-27 18:49:18 UTC

-Oaks have large canopies of leaves, which helps protect against surface erosion of soil below.

-Deep and widespread roots stabilize soil around them and are often found on slopes near creeks.

-Photosynthesis occurs on the many leaves of the California/ Coast Live Oak. Photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water from the atmosphere, to release glucose and oxygen. The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a major issue that contributes to global warming and removing carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis is beneficial to our atmosphere.

-Native Americans in California used to use the bark for medicinal purposes to heal digestive issues.

-There is a chemical compound in the bark of the California/Coast Live Oak called a tannin, which is extracted and used to tan hides.

("Oaks")("Quercus agrifolia: Coast")