Growing Valley Oak by Tracy Hobbs and Truman

Catifornia species. T propagation and establishment of woody seedlings are important aspects of many forest ecosystem restoration efforts. Two factors that play iraportant roles in successfully growing woody plants are the size and overall quality of the seed and whether or not the seedlings are grown in containers. In this paper, we examine how container size, acorn size and shell integrity, and weevil infestation affect the germination, survivorship, and growth of valley oak (Quercus lobata) seedlings. The issues we raise here are serious concerns for anyone restoring upland habitats in the western United States. Prior to disturbance, many of these ecosystems were populated by several taprooted oak species, including valley oak. These species often have not replaced themselves naturally and are difficult to restore by planting, either as seeds or container-grown seedlings (Muick and Bartolome, 1987; Adams and others, 1992; Swiecki and others, 1997). Knowing whether to be concerned about the effects of containers on tap-rooted oak seedlings and the effects of acorn size and weevil infestations of acorns on germination are, therefore, important pieces of information for restorationists working in these locales.