Coleman and Susan Burke Oak Collection

Coleman and Susan Burke Oak Collection. . , Accounting for more forest tree biomass than any other woody plant genus in North America, oaks are keystone species, supporting critical biodiversity in forests globally. Few trees have been as important throughout human history as the mighty oak, whose strong and durable wood is the foundation for homes and furniture, as well as soaring cathedrals, grand ships, and barrels essential to the modern wine industry. Oaks' venerated status in myth and storytelling in cultures across the world reflects the trees' importance to humanity., A Historic Collection , These oaks are one of NYBG's oldest collections, featuring several ancient specimens that predate the Garden's founding in 1891. Oaks, wind pollinated, acorn-bearing trees of the genus Quercus, are laid out together here so their morphology may be studied and appreciated in comparison to one another. Today the Burke Oak Collection comprises 159 preserved oaks and 26 new specimens, representing more than 40 oak species, hybrids, and cultivated varieties from across North America, Europe, and Asia to highlight the diversity of this remarkable genus., An Ancient Tree , Oak first appears in the fossil record nearly 56 million years ago. Over time, mutations and adaptations created a complex web of lineages with great diversity of form and function throughout the genus. Today there are over 400 species of oak, found across the varied landscapes of the world's temperate Northern Hemisphere, from subtropical Borneo to alpine Norway, across the scrublands of Mexico into Canada's northern forests. Oaks are particularly prominent in the Americas, where 60 percent of all Quercus species are found., [Captions:] , Where oaks grow:. The United States contains more than 90 species of native oaks., Mexico has the highest concentration of oak diversity in the world, with over 160 native species., Oak diversity is also rich in Asia: 100 species are native to China.