Compare sources for Quercus parvula

Select sources to compare:

Field

Oaks of the World

The Sibley Guide to Trees

Common Names

Sta Cruz Island oak, Coast oak

Shreve Oak, Coast Oak, Santa Crus Island Oak, Tamalpais Oak

Geographic Range

Sta Cruz Island, and some places in Sta Barbara County;

—

Growth Habit

1-3 m tall for the type species;

Evergreen, shrub or occasionally a small straight tree to 20’. Tree-like only along the central coast of CA.

Leaves

3-16 cm, evergreen; oblong, lanceolate or ovate; apex acute to acuminate; margins entire, seldom toothed; olive green, glabrous above; dull olive green, glabrous beneath; 6-8 vein pairs; petiole 2-10 mm;

2 1/2”
underleaf dull olive green

Fruits (Acorns)

acorn 3-4.5 cm long, ovoid, stalked, with tip abruptly tapered and shorter than Q.wislizeni ; cup 1-1.5 cm in diameter, tomentose inside, with thin, flat scales; maturing second year;

1 1/2”
large and fairly stout
abruptly tapered at tip

Flowers

late spring;

—

Hardiness & Habitat

zone 8; occurs in wet areas of coastal fog belt;

Locally commoon in relatively dry habitats often on edges of coastal Redwood forest
Not cultivated

Additional Information

– Sub-genus Quercus, section Lobatae, Series Agrifoliae; – U sually described as closely related to Q.wislizeni (and considered by Nixon 1997 as a synonym), but genetic studies of plants from Central California show some distinctions with those of North of Mexico justifying their classification as true species ( K.C. Nixon, 2002) ; Q. parvula differs from Q. wislizeni in having larger leaves (3-16 cm versus 2-5 cm), undersides dull olive green (vs shiny yellow-green), and acorn tip (abruptly tapered vs gradually tapered); moreover the habitats are different as well : Q. parvula is typical of wet costal areas, while Q. wislizeni is typical of arid slopes in the interior.

—