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Quercus kelloggii

Quercus kelloggii

9.9
A large oak tree that grows on the west coast of North America and has deeply lobed leaves
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : roble negro de California
  • The leaves of Quercus kelloggii turn vibrant shades of orange and red in autumn.

Examples

  • The Quercus kelloggii tree can grow up to 100 feet tall.

  • The dense forests in the Sierra Nevada are home to the majestic Quercus kelloggii.

  • Researchers studied the growth patterns of Quercus kelloggii in various soil types.

  • Many birds nest in the branches of the Quercus kelloggii.

  • The dense forests in the Sierra Nevada are home to the majestic Quercus kelloggii.

  • Many birds nest in the branches of the Quercus kelloggii.

  • The leaves of Quercus kelloggii turn vibrant shades of orange and red in autumn.

Synonyms

California black oak
vsQuercus kelloggii
  • US
7.8

A large tree with dark bark and deeply lobed leaves that loses them in autumn

uses the formal Latin scientific name for the same tree

Surface Forms

Morphology

Quercus + kelloggii

Knowing 'Quercus' as the oak genus gives a clear cue that the expression names a type/species of oak, but 'kelloggii' is a Latinized species epithet (a proper name) and carries no descriptive meaning for a B1 learner. Understanding the full referent (California black oak and its properties) requires knowledge of scientific binomial naming or the specific epithet, so the expression is partially but not fully predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Quercus kelloggii is a scientific name made of Latin and a person's name: Quercus is the Latin word for 'oak', and kelloggii is named after the botanist Albert Kellogg who worked with California plants. So the name tells you it is an oak and remembers the person who first described it.