Moon oak

Quercus tarsica, the Moon oak, is one of the preeminent and common hardwoods of Tapfer Minor. It is a long-lived oak native to the south and east of Flaventia with highest concentrations within the Great Hazel Woods. After the great fire of 1622 it was successfully propagated from recovered seeds in the Guinevere Dome on Tarsica where it now thrives as well. It has a special significance for the Hazel people who believe that the spirits of their ancestors reside within certain Moon oaks.

Description

Moon oaks regularly reach heights of up to 100 feet with large canopies. The bark is white, as are its acorns, leading to the name "Moon oak." They tend to cluster, thus their large canopies create wide open clearings and thickets. These clearings are where many Hazel families establish communities and family settlements. According to the oral histories of the Hazel people, Moon oaks can live up to 1000 years, but records indicate that 300-600 years is more likely. It is the preferred tree for the Aurora eagle to make its nests in. Moon oaks grow most abundantly, and reach their greatest sizes in the Great Hazel Woods due to a unique characteristic of the soil there.