Hybrid Oak

THE HYBRIDS OF OAK RIDGE

0-011   This hybrid oak (Quercus humidicola) probably was planted at the same time and from the same source as the overcup oak next to it, but it was grown from an acorn pollinated by swamp white oak, another lowland forest tree. Oaks are notorious for their tendencies to hybridize. We may only speculate about the Lincoln-associated origin of these trees, but they have strong circumstantial evidence supporting their claim.

0-011   39.822538 N, 89.656477 W     Get walking directions here for 0-011.

0-051      This hybrid oak tree is the largest Quercus ×runcinata (Q. imbricaria × Q. rubra, shingle oak × red oak) known in Illinois and has been declared the Illinois state champion of its kind. It was left standing when the Vietnam Memorial was built, and has attracted botanical visitors from around the world. Turf establishment and over-irrigation damaged its roots, but pulling the turf back and turning off the surplus water are allowing it to regain vigor. Seedlings from this tree often revert toward one parent species or the other in various characteristics, but this one is a first generation hybrid and is intermediate between the two.

♥ Adopted on December 6, 2021 by Kathleen Alcorn in honor of Richard W. Alcorn ♥ Dedicated as a gift to Richard W. Alcorn, Vietnam Veteran, and father to Deputy Mayor Alcorn.

0-051   39.819513 N, 89.662545 W     Get walking directions here for 0-051.

94-29      This interesting hybrid oak appears to be an unnamed cross of overcup oak with chinkapin oak (Quercus lyrata  × (?) Q. muehlenbergii) It originated as a seedling from the same overcup oak that gave us Quercus lyrata 94-02 and Quercus ×megaleia 94-28. Note the variable, intricate lobes on the leaves, showing the diversity that often can be found on even one branch of a new oak hybrid. We are unsure of its identity, and unless you are an oak botanist we suggest you simply enjoy it for its stoic presence in this sacred war memorial area.

94-29   39.820409 N, 89.661985 W     Get walking directions here for 94-29.

01-07      European Durmast oak (Quercus petraea) is the primary wine-barrel oak seen throughout most of Europe. It often crosses with the more common pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), forming the hybrid oak Quercus ×rosacea seen here. The Durmast oak from which this specimen was grown prefers high ground and its botanical name (“petraea”) refers to the rocky soils where it is often found. This tree was grown from seed collected from a superior Durmast oak specimen at Arboretum de Breuil in Paris, France, that was pollinated by a nearby pedunculate oak, giving us this F1 hybrid. Pure Durmast oak can be separated from pedunculate oak by its stalked leaves and its sessile (stalkless) acorns.

01-07   39.818249 N, 89.660647 W     Get walking directions here for 01-07.