The Jurupa Oak, or Hurungna Oak, [1] [2] is a clonal colony of Quercus palmeri (Palmer's oak) trees in the Jurupa Mountains in Crestmore Heights, Riverside County, California. The colony has survived an estimated 13,000 years through clonal reproduction, [3] [4] [5] making it one of the world's oldest living trees. [5] The oak was discovered by botanist Mitch Provance in the 1990s and at the time he recognized it as disjunct for the species and likely an "ancient" clonal stand. [6]
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The colony only grows after wildfires, when its burned branches sprout new shoots. [3] It is the only one of its species in the surrounding area, which is a much drier climate and lower altitude than that in which Palmer's oaks typically grow. [3] The oak has roughly 70 clusters of stems in a thicket which measures 25×8 meters in area and one meter in height. [5]
The colony is located within a mile of 34°01′59″N117°23′28″W / 34.033°N 117.391°W at an elevation of approximately 1,312 ft (400 m) on a relatively steep north-facing slope. [5]
On September 5, 2024, the city council of Jurupa Valley, California, approved in a 3-2 vote a plan to build a mixed development on 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) that includes 1,700 homes and a light industrial park, within 550 feet (170 m) of the Jurupa Oak. [7]
