OAKS

Quercus agrifolia California, Coastal Live Oak

Leaf size and shape1-3” long, broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, Leaf characteristicsWavy, with large bristle-tipped teeth along margins, edges rolled under, thick, leathery upper convex surface 5 pairs of veins or less, shiny dark green above, yellow-green often with tuffs of hairs in vein angles beneath, evergreen Acorn¾ - 1½” long. Nut narrowly ovoid, light chestnut brown, 1/3 enclosed within deep, rounded cup finely hairy, flat thin scales, Height/diameter30-80’/3-4’ ElevationUp to 4600’

Quercus chrysolepis Canyon Live Oak

Leaf size and shape1-4” long, elliptic Leaf characteristicsMargins untoothed, young twigs wavy with several large prickly teeth, edges rolled under. Leathery, bright green above, golden hairy or bluish white with hairless beneath, evergreen acorn5/8 – 1.25” long, ovoid to oblong, light chestnut brown, ¼ enclosed with flat bottom cup of golden woolly, warty scales Height/diameter15-70’/1-5’ Elevation ’

Quercus douglasii Blue Oak

Leaf shape and size2-5” long, elliptic to obovate, with 3-5 shallow lobes or with margins toothed or untoothed, sometimes wavey Leaf characteristsWaxy stiff, bluish or grayish green and hairless to slightly downy above. Pale green to slightly downy beneath Acorn¾ - 1 ½” long, nut ovoid, light chestnut brown, only base enclosed with shallow, flat bottomed, cup of warty scales. Height/diameter20-60’/1-3’ ElevationUp to 4000’

Quercus kelloggii California Black Oak

Leaf shape and size 3 ½ - 8” long, widest toward tip, 7 or 9 lobed divided about halfway by mid-vein, each lobe ends in bristle- tipped teeth Leaf characteristicsShiny dark green above, light yellow-green and often hairy beneath, autumn color yellow, orange, and brown Acorn1-1 ½” long, nut ovoid, light chestnut brown, ½ enclosed with deep cup of thin, flat glossy, light brown scales, Height/diameter30-80’/ 1-4’ Elevation ’

Lithocarpus densiflorus Tan Oak or Tanbark Oak

Leaf size and shape 2-5” long, elliptic Leaf characteristicsMargins untoothed or with 1 tooth per side vein, edges often curled under, stiff and leathery, shiny dark green, with thin coat of wool above, whitish waxy-coated, with dense coat of wool beneath, wool may eventually rub off, Acorn¾ - 1” long, ½ -1” wide, nut ovoid, usually pointed, glossy, maturing to yellow-brown, in a shallow cup densely curved with bristles, densely rusty-hairy inside of cup Flower2-4” long narrow upright catkin Height/diameter60-80’/ 1-3’ ElevationUp to 7200’

Quercus lobata Valley Oak

Leaf size and shape Leaf 2-4” long, widest toward tip, 7-11 rounded lobes, deeply divided more than half way to mid-vein, tips of larger lobes notched Leaf characteristicsDark green and often downy above, pale green, finely hairy, with yellow veins beneath Acorn1 ¼ - 2” long, nut narrowly ovoid, (bullet shaped), tapered toward tip, bright chestnut brown, 1/3 enclosed with deep, rounded cup of hairy scales Height/diameter30-90’/2-4’ ElevationUp to 5600’

Quercus wilezinii Interior Live Oak

Leaf shape and size1-2”long, variable in shape Leaf characteristicsUsually has short bristle-tipped teeth along margins, thick leathery, shiny dark green above, glossy yellow green with prominent veins beneath, typically more than 5 pairs of side veins, hairless on both sides, twig woolly, evergreen Acorn¾ - 1½ long, nut ovoid, light chestnut brown with darker lengthwise streaks, ½ enclosed with deep cup of thin flat scales, single or in pairs Height/diameter30-75’/2-3’ elevation ’