Quercus brandegeei tree

Quercus brandegeei is an Endangered species of oak found only on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It grows in ephemeral stream beds that fill up after hurricanes and has very distinct, elongate acorns. Historically, ancestors to Q. brandegeei were fairly widespread. This tree, however, is now confined to a very small range in Baja Sur. Moreover, the species’ future is severely threatened by lack of regeneration in the wild. Ecologists estimate that no new seedlings have been established in at least 100 years, but the reason why this species is not regenerating remains a mystery. Factors that could be at play include drought caused by long-term climate change and seed predation by local cattle ranching. The Morton Arboretum, La Universidad Nacional Autonomo de Mexico and Jardin Botanico de Vallarta are working on a project to research what is preventing regeneration of Q. brandegeei in order to inform future conservation efforts.