''Quercus affinis'' is a species of

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

native only to Mexico, mostly to the

Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and " saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range ...

Description

Quercus affinis is a medium-sized evergreen tree which grows up to 16 or 20 meters tall. The leaves are dark green and glossy with toothed edges. Young leaves are sometimes flushed bronze. Trees produce flowers and catkins in the spring, which by autumn mature into small, rounded acorns up to 1.5cm long. With its laurel-like leaves it can be confused with its close relative '' Q. laurina'', with which it easily hybridizes in the wild.

Range and habitat

''Quercus affinis'' ranges through the mountains of eastern Mexico, between 1200 and 2600 meters elevation. Its range includes the Sierra Madre Oriental of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, and Veracruz states, the eastern

Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt ( es, Eje Volcánico Transversal), also known as the Transvolcanic Belt and locally as the (''Snowy Mountain Range''), is an active volcanic belt that covers central-southern Mexico. Several of its highest peaks h ...

of Veracruz and Puebla, and the

Sierra Madre de Oaxaca The Sierra Madre de Oaxaca is a mountain range in southern Mexico. It is primarily in the state of Oaxaca, and extends north into the states of Puebla and Veracruz. Geography The mountain range begins at Pico de Orizaba, and extends in a southeas ...

of Puebla and Oaxaca, with some outlying populations in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero. ''Quercus affinis'' is typically found in cloud forest, frequently associated with ''

Liquidambar styraciflua American sweetgum (''Liquidambar styraciflua''), also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the genus ''Liquidambar'' native to warm temper ...

''. It also found in oak forests, pine–oak forests, and pine forests. It favors shallow karstic limestone soils with acid pH.

Conservation

The pine–oak forests of Mexico have been extensively logged for timber, firewood, and charcoal. Other threats include habitat loss from forest clearing for cattle pasture and agriculture. Despite logging and loss of habitat across its range, its population is considered stable.

Cultivation

It has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15336265 affinis Endemic oaks of Mexico Flora of Central Mexico Flora of Northwestern Mexico Flora of Southwestern Mexico Flora of Veracruz Plants described in 1837 Flora of the Sierra Madre Oriental Flora of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca Cloud forest flora of Mexico