Quercus donnaiensis

Quercus donnaiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Cerris
Section: Quercus sect. Cyclobalanopsis
Species:
Q. donnaiensis
Binomial name
Quercus donnaiensis

Quercus donnaiensis is a critically endangered species of oak trees, endemic to central Vietnam.[2] This species belongs the Asian sub-genus of Quercus within the family Fagaceae: which have acorns with distinctive cups, characterised by growing rings of scaly protrusions; it was considered a synonym of Quercus langbianensis, but now included by Binh, Ngoc et al. (2018)[3] in the "Q. langbianensis complex".[4]

Its habitat is broadleaf evergreen montane forest, with the original description locating "Province du Haut-Donnaï; 1000-1700 m",[4] so the species name almost certainly relates to the French spelling for the upper Đồng Nai river region rather than the modern province.

Description

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The original description states that the tree grows to 25 m and a distinguishing feature of Quercus donnaiensis is the yellow/golden tomentum covering the whole young tree: including young twigs, which later become glabrous and dark brown.[4]

The leaves are 100-160 x 40-50 mm, oval-lanceolate in shape, with a few peripheral teeth in upper 1/3; they are densely tomentose at first, becoming hairless, but with a persistent tomentum along midrib. this is nearly flat above, prominent beneath, with 9-14 pairs of secondary veins, at an angle of 60° from midrib; tertiary veins are not visible. The petiole is tomentose and 10-20 mm long.

Female catkins are 25 mm long, with 5-6 flowers on a tomentose rachis; there are typically 4 styles with stigmas that are thick and dark. The acorns are 15-17 mm long x 12 mm wide, loosely pubescent and rounded at tip. They are in groups of 4 to 5 on a 70-80 mm rachis and take 2 years to mature. The cupule is half-round and 15 mm in diameter, with 5-6 concentric scaley rings, enclosing 1/2 of the nut.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Camus A. (1935) Chênes, Atlas 2: 119.
  2. ^ "Quercus donnaiensis A.Camus". Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ Binh HT, Ngoc NV, Tagane S, Toyama H, Mase K, Mitsuyuki C, Strijk JS, Suyama Y, Yahara T (2018). A taxonomic study of Quercus langbianensis complex based on morphology and DNA barcodes of classic and next generation sequences. PhytoKeys 95: 37-70.
  4. ^ a b c d Quercus donnaiensis in Oaks of the World archived (retrieved 19 April 2024)
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  • Data related to Quercus at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Quercus at Wikimedia Commons