Forest Service Crowns Big Tree Champions In Big Bend Ranch State Park
Two Mexican blue oaks in Big Bend Ranch State Park were recently confirmed by Texas A&M Forest Service to be the largest of their kind in the state.
Located in a remote canyon in the middle of the park, the trees are on the latest edition of the Texas Big Tree Registry, a listing of the largest specimen of every native or naturalized tree species found in the state.
Known officially as Quercus oblongifolia, Mexican blue oak is rare in Texas. First discovered in the state in 1970’s, the remote canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park is the only place the species is known to occur naturally in Texas. The largest tree in the grove was nominated and crowned the state champion in 1976. Fast forward forty years and the original champion still reigns, but another specimen across the canyon has grown enough to claim co-champ status.
“Big Bend Ranch State Park is proud to partner with Texas A&M Forest Service to conserve and promote the appreciation of our state’s important natural resources,” Sean Dugan, superintendent of Big Bend Ranch State Park, said. “We at the park are excited to be a part of the Big Tree Registry with our two co-champion Mexican blue oaks.”
The purpose of the Big Tree Registry is twofold — to stimulate a greater public appreciation of trees and to recognize owners and nominators of the state’s largest trees. The registry is published quarterly on the Texas A&M Forest Service Big Tree Registry page.
This article originally appeared in the Texas A&M Forest Service website.
