Swamp White Oak Private Tree on Giffords Lane

Borough: Staten Island
Community Board: 03
Designated: 2024

Tree Details

Species: Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)

The swamp white oak is a native tree that is located, not surprisingly, near wetlands. It thrives in wet soil and provides habitat and sustenance for a variety of wildlife. With its dark green glossy leaves, large acorns, broad canopy, and a long lifespan, it is an extraordinary tree.

This particular tree has borne witness to centuries of history on Giffords Lane, Staten Island. Estimated to have begun its life in the late 1700s or early 1800s, it stands as a testament to the ever-changing landscape of Staten Island. While the land it occupies was originally owned by Dutch settler Tunis Egbert in 1660, when the island was known as Staaten Eylandt, this oak, much younger in comparison, has served as a natural landmark for generations.

Always positioned on the outermost portion of a property line, it became an invaluable reference point in numerous deeds, some dating as far back as 1835. Its significance as a natural boundary marker likely contributed to its preservation, sparing it from being cut down as the area developed.

This tree is inaccessible to the public.

Location

Near Giffords Ln & Gibson Ave, inaccessible to the public

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