Quercus chrysolepis

Quercus chrysolepis Leibmann

by Nate Gwinn, Native Plants of Arizona 2004

Common name(s): Canyon live oak (1, 2, 3)

Family: Fagaceae (1, 2, 3)

Synonymy: none
Etymology: Quercus translates into “the oak”, and chrysolepis translates into “gold scale” or “gold leaf.” (4)

Identification

Growth form: Small, evergreen tree with a rounded, dense crown from 6 to 20 m in height. Trunk single, to 10 cm in diameter (1, 2)
Roots: Root depth minimum for Q. chrysolepis is around 105 cm. It prefers moderately moist soils with a pH between 4.50 to 7.50. Like most oaks Q. chrysolepis depends on an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungi (1).

Stem: Erect trunk forming a rounded crown with densely arranged branches and foliage (1).

Leaves: Lanceolate to elliptic, apex acute, base rounded to cuneate, margin entire to revolute. Leaves from 4.0 to 12.0 cm in length and from 0.8 to 3.5 cm wide. Lower leaf surface grayish in color with white stellate hairs, upper leaf surface dark green and shiny (3).

Inflorescence/flowers: Very small and greenish. Dioeceous, male flowers form drooping catkin, females form a small spike (2).

Fruit: Acorn growing singly or in pairs, 1.2 to 2.0 cm in length. Cupule covers about one third of the fruit. White-to-mentose on the inner surface and somewhat on the outer surface (3).

Similar species: Quercus grisea differs by leaves being more highly toothed and grayish on both leaf surfaces, Q. emoryii also with leaves more highly toothed and with bright green undersides, Q. arizonica with more highly toothed and venous leaves (2, 3).

Ecology

Life history: Evergreen tree

Native/introduced: Native to the Southwestern United States.

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology: Flowers from March to May, fruit matures between August and October (1).

Distribution: Southwestern U.S to northern Mexico, also California and Oregon. Grows on moderate to steep slopes often in canyons from elevations of 200 to 2700 m (1).

Uses

Erosion control, Q. chrysolepis controls soil loss on slopes. Various wildlife uses. Pioneers used extremely hard wood of Q. chrysolepis for various pieces of equipment such as wagon wheels, axels, and hammerheads (1).

References

1. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA.

2. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Mountana.

3. Carter, J. L. 1997. Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico. Johnson Books. Boulder, Colorado.

4. . Borror, D.J. 1988. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company. Mountain View, California.

Quercus chrysolepis Leibmann by Nate Gwinn, Native Plants of Arizona 2004 Common name(s): Canyon live oak (1, 2, 3) Family: Fagaceae (1, 2, 3) Synonymy: none Etymology: Quercus translates into “the oak”, and chrysolepis translates into “gold scale” or “gold leaf.” (4) Identification Growth form: Small, evergreen tree with a rounded, dense crown from 6 to 20 m in height. Trunk single, to 10 cm in diameter (1, 2) Roots: Root depth minimum for Q. chrysolepis is around 105 cm. It prefers moderately moist soils with a pH between 4.50 to 7.50. Like most oaks Q. chrysolepis depends on an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungi (1). Stem: Erect trunk forming a rounded crown with densely arranged branches and foliage (1). Leaves: Lanceolate to elliptic, apex acute, base rounded to cuneate, margin entire to revolute. Leaves from 4.0 to 12.0 cm in length and from 0.8 to 3.5 cm wide. Lower leaf surface grayish in color with white stellate hairs, upper leaf surface dark green and shiny (3). Inflorescence/flowers: Very small and greenish. Dioeceous, male flowers form drooping catkin, females form a small spike (2). Fruit: Acorn growing singly or in pairs, 1.2 to 2.0 cm in length. Cupule covers about one third of the fruit. White-to-mentose on the inner surface and somewhat on the outer surface (3). Similar species: Quercus grisea differs by leaves being more highly toothed and grayish on both leaf surfaces, Q. emoryii also with leaves more highly toothed and with bright green undersides, Q. arizonica with more highly toothed and venous leaves (2, 3). Ecology Life history: Evergreen tree Native/introduced: Native to the Southwestern United States. Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Flowers from March to May, fruit matures between August and October (1). Distribution: Southwestern U.S to northern Mexico, also California and Oregon. Grows on moderate to steep slopes often in canyons from elevations of 200 to 2700 m (1). Uses Erosion control, Q. chrysolepis controls soil loss on slopes. Various wildlife uses. Pioneers used extremely hard wood of Q. chrysolepis for various pieces of equipment such as wagon wheels, axels, and hammerheads (1). References 1. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA. 2. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Mountana. 3. Carter, J. L. 1997. Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico. Johnson Books. Boulder, Colorado. 4. . Borror, D.J. 1988. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company. Mountain View, California.