http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/quenuta.pdf.
1. A new and distinct variety of Oak tree substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its unique glossy, dark green leaf and its red fall color.
Variety denomination: ‘QSFTC’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Quercus plant, which has been given the varietal name ‘QSFTC’. I discovered my new tree in 1995 as a chance seedling in a cultivated area of a nursery growing area in Bulloch County, Ga.
The parentage of this tree is not totally certain. It is definitely a red oak type usually represented by Pin Oak,
Seeds were collected from a group of three trees of an unknown variety in Birmingham, Ala. The seed were collected in fall of 1991 and planted into seedbeds in late winter of 1992. In spring of 1993, 1,200 bare-root liners were transplanted to a growing area of a nursery. This is where I discovered my new variety as a single plant. The original tree has remained at this location since its discovery.
The original tree has displayed characteristics resembling Nuttall Oak and Scarlet Oak, as well as, Shumard Oak. There is much confusion over the exact identification of this tree, and several experienced individuals have expressed differing opinions. The only consistency has been the opinion that the acorn is generally the most distinguishing characteristic determining the species difference between Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak. Other trees from the group of 1,200 have fruited, and their acorns resemble both Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak. However, acorns from my new tree have more characteristics of a Shumard Oak which suggests that my new tree is most likely a Shumard Oak or at least has Shumard Oak as a parent. Other physical characteristics of the tree, such as leaf size, sinus depth, or bud features, do not provide definitive answers as to the true parentage of the tree.
Also, Shumard Oak, as well as most other red oak types, readily hybridize with one another, and thus there is a possibility that this tree is a result of a cross between a Nuttall Oak and Shumard Oak or some other species of red oak. In Texas, Nuttall Oak is found in the lower Southeast corner of Texas, Shumard is located in a wide band covering most of the eastern part of the state, and Texas Red Oak,
In 1995, this original tree of my new variety was successfully propagated by softwood cuttings at my direction, and the progeny have thus far proven to retain the dense, upright, uniform branching pattern, glossy, dark green leaf, and red fall color of the original tree even as smaller plants.
I have observed this original tree of my new variety and asexually propagated progeny for a period of time and believe my new variety particularly useful as a specimen or for grouping in lawns, parks, golf courses, commercial landscapes, and as a street tree. It provides good shade, has a fast growth rate, adapts well to various planting conditions, and has good structural integrity. It also provides ornamental interest with its red fall color.
Typical Shumard Oaks and Nuttall Oaks are pyramidal trees that become more spreading with age. My original tree and asexually propagated progeny have an upright shape. I expect the trees to become more spreading with age as is typical of the species. Both Shumard Oak and Nuttall Oak typically reach 40 to 60 feet high and wide in the landscape, but can reach 100 feet or more in nature.
My new variety has been asexually propagated at my direction in Bulloch County, Ga. from softwood cuttings. This propagation and observation of the resulting progeny have proven the characteristics of my new variety to be firmly fixed. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that my new variety represents a new and improved variety of Shumard Oak as particularly evidenced by the dense, upright, uniform branching pattern, glossy, dark green leaf, and red fall color and which can reliably be asexually propagated using vegetative propagation techniques. The progeny have yet to produce any acorns.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As I observed the original tree of my new variety, the uniqueness of this tree became apparent because of its dense, upright, uniform branching pattern, glossy, dark green leaf, and consistent red fall color. These characteristics distinguish my new tree from other Shumard Oaks of which I am aware. This tree is capable of being reproduced reliably using vegetative cuttings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree and foliage of my new variety as nearly as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character. It should be noted that colors in a photograph can vary with lighting conditions. Also, growing conditions can affect plant color.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description of the ‘QSFTC’ variety is based on observations of the original tree, which was about nine years old and of about six year old progeny growing in typical outdoor conditions in Bulloch County, Ga. The progeny had been asexually propagated from softwood cuttings at my direction in 1995. The observed progeny have thus far proven to retain the dense, upright, uniform branching pattern, glossy, dark green leaf, and red fall color of the parent tree even as smaller plants.
Scientific name: Quercus sp., Varietal Name ‘QSFTC’.
Parentage:
Tree:
Leaves: The leaves of Nuttall Oak, Shumard Oak, Pin Oak, and Scarlet Oak all closely resemble one another, and my tree has leaves that most resemble a typical
The length, width, thickness and other measurements mentioned above were obtained from observations of about ten typical leaves in 2001.
Flowers: Most oaks have flowers so similar that it is difficult to distinguish between species based on flower type alone. The flowers of my new tree are typical of most oaks. The trees are monoecious. The staminate catkins are pendent and clustered. The individual flowers comprise 4- to 7-lobed calyx that encloses 6 to 12 stamens. Pistillate flowers are solitary or in few to many-flowered spikes from the axils of the new leaves. Individual pistillate flowers consist of a 6-lobed calyx surrounding the ovary, with the whole partly enclosed in an involucre.
Fruit: (Observations from a limited number of typical acorns from the original tree, acorns have yet to be observed on progeny.)
The acorn of this tree most closely resembles that of Shumard Oak. In this case, they are typical of the species. Acorns are ovate, ¾ to 1½″ long, short-stalked, oblong-ovoid and covered only at the base by the cap (FIG.