HERNANDO CHAPTER of the FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

HERNANDO CHAPTER
of the
FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

PLANT PROFILE
Oaks of Central Florida
by Sharon La Plante

Some species of oaks have a broad range of mature leaf shape, and in many the leaves of new shoots are entirely different from the mature leaves. To add to the confusion oaks hybridize between different species growing in close proximity to one another, in turn producing leaf shapes having characteristics of both parents. These factors make identification to the novice challenging. Identification is most reliable when using leaves from the crown branches.

Oaks are monoecious, having male and female flowers on the same plant. Pistillate (female) flowers are inconspicuous, and staminate (male) flowers in some species appear as hanging catkins at the base of emerging growth of the season.

Oaks are divided into two groups: the white and the black (or red). The white oak's acorns mature in the fall of the year that they are formed, and are preferred by wildlife (and humans) because they are sweeter than the black acorn. The black oak's acorns mature the second year following their formation, and are more bitter than the white's.

Chapman's oak. Quercus chapmanii

Habit: A small evergreen tree to about 24 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to occasionally obovate or spatulate, 3/4 - 4 in. long & 1/2 - 3 1/4 in. wide. The margins of some leaves are entire, and margins of others may be wavy or shallowly lobed. The upper leaf surface is a dark, shiny green, and the lower is lightly pubescent.

Flowers: Male flowers appear at the tips of the branches in 3 1/4 - 4 3/4 in. catkins.

Acorn: 5/8 - 1 in. long and in the white group.

Habitat: Coastal & inland sand pine scrub, and oak scrub.

Sand live oak. Quercus geminata

Habit: An evergreen tree to 30 feet in height. The bark is thick & roughly ridged.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, thick, leathery & coarsely veined, 3/4 - 4 3/4 in. long & 1/4 - 1 1/2 in. wide. The margins are entire, and extremely revolute - turn the leaf upside down & it looks like an elongated bowl. The upper leaf surface is dark green, and the lower is dull gray. The petioles are densely pubescent.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. long and in the white group.

Habitat: Coastal dunes, sand pine scrub, and coastal hammocks.

Bluejack oak. Quercus incana

Habit: A small deciduous tree reaching 36 feet in height. The bark is dark gray to black, and deeply furrowed.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, and elliptic to lanceolate. The margins are entire, 2 - 4 in. long & 1/2 - 1 in. wide. The upper leaf surface is bluish to ashy green, and the lower is silvery and tomentose. The apices are tipped with a short bristle.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1/2 - 5/8 in. long and in the black group.

Habitat. Sandhill and dry pinelands.

Scrub oak. Quercus inopina

Habit: A small evergreen tree to about 8 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic, 3/4 - 4 3/4 in. Iong and 1/2 - 3 in. wide. Margins entire, strongly revolute. Lower leaf surface with a powdery yellow fuzz.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1/2 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Sand pine scrub.

Turkey oak. Quercus laevis

Habit: A deciduous tree reaching 45 feet in height. The bark is dark gray, blocky & furrowed.Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3 - 12 in. Iong & 1 - 8 in. wide, with three to seven deep lobes.

The lower surface is hairy in the vein axils.

Flowers: Male flowers appear at the tips of the branches in 3 1/4 - 4 3/4 in. catkins.

Acorn: 3/4 - 1 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Sandhill and dry pinelands.

Laurel oak. Quercus laurifolia

Habit: A large deciduous tree to 90 feet in height. Dark grayish bark.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, 2 - 4 in. Iong & 1/2 - 1 in. wide, obovate to oblanceolate. Some leaves may appear diamond shaped.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Wet woods and mesic oak-pine forest.

Sand post oak. Quercus margaretta

Habit: A deciduous tree reaching 30 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3/4 - 6 in. Iong & up to 5 in. wide. Typically with 3 to 5 rounded or squarish lobes.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn. 3/4 in. Iong and in the white group.

Habitat: Sand ridges and pine-oak scrub.

Swamp chestnut oak. Quercas michauxcii

Habit: A large deciduous tree reaching 100 feet in height. The bark is scaly.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, obovate, 4 - 9 in. Iong & 2 3/4 - 6 in. wide. Margins with shallow lobes that appear undulate rather than lobed.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1 - 2 in. Iong and in the white group.

Habitat: Mixed hardwood forests, mesic hammocks, & bluffs.

Dwarf Live oak. Quercus minima

Habit: An evergreen shrub reaching 3 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblong to obovate, 3/4 - 4 in. Iong, often toothed, less often entire. Lower leaf surface is finely pubescent.

Flowers: Inconspicuous.

Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Pine flatwoods.

Myrtle oak. Quercus myrtifolia

Habit: An evergreen tree to 25 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, may be elliptic, oblong, or oval, 3/4 - 3 in. Iong & 1/2 - 2 in. wide. Margins entire or lobed, and revolute. Upper surfaces dark green and lower surfaces yellowish green.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 3/8 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Inland dunes, coastal dunes, & coastal regions.

Water oak. Quercus nigra

Habit: A deciduous tree to 75 feet in height. The bark is smooth to shallowly furrowed.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire end variable in shape. Leaves may be three lobed, but more commonly spatulate, 2 - 4 in. long & 1 - 2 in. wide.

Flowers: Male flowers are hanging catkins that are 2 - 3 in. Iong.

Acorn: 3/8 -5/8 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Lowland and flood plain woods.

Running oak. Quercus pumila

Habit: A semi-deciduous shrub, commonly forming thickets of subterranean runners, generally 3 feet tall. If the site has not been burned recently they may be 6 feet in height.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblanceolate or spatulate, narrowly elliptic, or lanceolate, with entire margins.

Flowers: Inconspicuous

Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group.

Habitat: Well-drained pinelands.

Live oak. Quercus virginiana

Habit: Large, spreading, evergreen tree to 60 feet in height. Rough bark with the short, central trunk dividing above the ground into several large branches.

Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, leathery, and stiff to 2 - 5 in. Iong & 1/2 - 2 in. wide. Upper leaf surfaces are green & shiny above, and pale gray & sparsely tomentose below. Leaves of saplings and shoots may be toothed or shallowly lobed.

Flowers: Male flowers are hanging catkins 2 - 3 in. Iong.

Acorn: 1/2 - 1 in. Iong and in the white group.

Habitat: Well-drained woods, pine flatwoods, and salt marshes.

GLOSSARY:

alternate - an unpaired arrangement - as opposed to opposite. Alternate leaves are located singly on the stem.

apical - located at the apex or tip

axil - the upper angle between two structures (the leaf axil is between the leaf and the stem)

compound leaf - a leaf in which the blade is subdivided into two or more leaflets. The opposite is simple leaf.

elliptic - a shape where the middle is wider than the two tapered ends

entire - leaf margins without teeth, lobes, or divisions

lanceolate - lance-shaped, the base is broadest and gradually narrowed at the apex

margin - The edge of the leaf

oblanceolate - the apex is broadest and gradually narrowed to the base (the opposite is lanceolate)

obovate - The apex (or tip) is wider than the base

petiole - The leaf stalk

revolute - With the margins rolled backward toward the underside

simple leaf - a leaf with only one blade, not compound

spatulate - shaped like a spatula, rounded at the apex and tapering to the base

tomentose - a covering of short, matted or tangled soft wooly hairs

References:

Arny, Nancy P. Common Oaks of Florida. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fact Sheet FOR 51

Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia and Alabama. University of Georgia Press: Athens, GA 1981. The illustrations for this article came from this book.
ISBN: 0820310352

USF Institute for Systemic Botany, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, On-line Version http://www.usf.edu/~isb/progects/atlas/dic-def.html

Wunderlin, Richard P. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Florida. University Press of Florida: Tampa, FL. 1991

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PLANT PROFILE Oaks of Central Florida by Sharon La Plante
Some species of oaks have a broad range of mature leaf shape, and in many the leaves of new shoots are entirely different from the mature leaves. To add to the confusion oaks hybridize between different species growing in close proximity to one another, in turn producing leaf shapes having characteristics of both parents. These factors make identification to the novice challenging. Identification is most reliable when using leaves from the crown branches. Oaks are monoecious, having male and female flowers on the same plant. Pistillate (female) flowers are inconspicuous, and staminate (male) flowers in some species appear as hanging catkins at the base of emerging growth of the season. Oaks are divided into two groups: the white and the black (or red). The white oak's acorns mature in the fall of the year that they are formed, and are preferred by wildlife (and humans) because they are sweeter than the black acorn. The black oak's acorns mature the second year following their formation, and are more bitter than the white's.
	Chapman's oak. Quercus chapmanii Habit: A small evergreen tree to about 24 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to occasionally obovate or spatulate, 3/4 - 4 in. long & 1/2 - 3 1/4 in. wide. The margins of some leaves are entire, and margins of others may be wavy or shallowly lobed. The upper leaf surface is a dark, shiny green, and the lower is lightly pubescent. Flowers: Male flowers appear at the tips of the branches in 3 1/4 - 4 3/4 in. catkins. Acorn: 5/8 - 1 in. long and in the white group. Habitat: Coastal & inland sand pine scrub, and oak scrub.
	Sand live oak. Quercus geminata Habit: An evergreen tree to 30 feet in height. The bark is thick & roughly ridged. Leaves: Alternate, simple, thick, leathery & coarsely veined, 3/4 - 4 3/4 in. long & 1/4 - 1 1/2 in. wide. The margins are entire, and extremely revolute - turn the leaf upside down & it looks like an elongated bowl. The upper leaf surface is dark green, and the lower is dull gray. The petioles are densely pubescent. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. long and in the white group. Habitat: Coastal dunes, sand pine scrub, and coastal hammocks.
	Bluejack oak. Quercus incana Habit: A small deciduous tree reaching 36 feet in height. The bark is dark gray to black, and deeply furrowed. Leaves: Alternate, simple, and elliptic to lanceolate. The margins are entire, 2 - 4 in. long & 1/2 - 1 in. wide. The upper leaf surface is bluish to ashy green, and the lower is silvery and tomentose. The apices are tipped with a short bristle. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1/2 - 5/8 in. long and in the black group. Habitat. Sandhill and dry pinelands.
	Scrub oak. Quercus inopina Habit: A small evergreen tree to about 8 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic, 3/4 - 4 3/4 in. Iong and 1/2 - 3 in. wide. Margins entire, strongly revolute. Lower leaf surface with a powdery yellow fuzz. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1/2 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Sand pine scrub.
	Turkey oak. Quercus laevis Habit: A deciduous tree reaching 45 feet in height. The bark is dark gray, blocky & furrowed.Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3 - 12 in. Iong & 1 - 8 in. wide, with three to seven deep lobes. The lower surface is hairy in the vein axils. Flowers: Male flowers appear at the tips of the branches in 3 1/4 - 4 3/4 in. catkins. Acorn: 3/4 - 1 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Sandhill and dry pinelands.
	Laurel oak. Quercus laurifolia Habit: A large deciduous tree to 90 feet in height. Dark grayish bark. Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, 2 - 4 in. Iong & 1/2 - 1 in. wide, obovate to oblanceolate. Some leaves may appear diamond shaped. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Wet woods and mesic oak-pine forest.
	Sand post oak. Quercus margaretta Habit: A deciduous tree reaching 30 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3/4 - 6 in. Iong & up to 5 in. wide. Typically with 3 to 5 rounded or squarish lobes. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn. 3/4 in. Iong and in the white group. Habitat: Sand ridges and pine-oak scrub.
	Swamp chestnut oak. Quercas michauxcii Habit: A large deciduous tree reaching 100 feet in height. The bark is scaly. Leaves: Alternate, simple, obovate, 4 - 9 in. Iong & 2 3/4 - 6 in. wide. Margins with shallow lobes that appear undulate rather than lobed. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1 - 2 in. Iong and in the white group. Habitat: Mixed hardwood forests, mesic hammocks, & bluffs.
	Dwarf Live oak. Quercus minima Habit: An evergreen shrub reaching 3 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblong to obovate, 3/4 - 4 in. Iong, often toothed, less often entire. Lower leaf surface is finely pubescent. Flowers: Inconspicuous. Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Pine flatwoods.
	Myrtle oak. Quercus myrtifolia Habit: An evergreen tree to 25 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, may be elliptic, oblong, or oval, 3/4 - 3 in. Iong & 1/2 - 2 in. wide. Margins entire or lobed, and revolute. Upper surfaces dark green and lower surfaces yellowish green. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 3/8 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Inland dunes, coastal dunes, & coastal regions.
	Water oak. Quercus nigra Habit: A deciduous tree to 75 feet in height. The bark is smooth to shallowly furrowed. Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire end variable in shape. Leaves may be three lobed, but more commonly spatulate, 2 - 4 in. long & 1 - 2 in. wide. Flowers: Male flowers are hanging catkins that are 2 - 3 in. Iong. Acorn: 3/8 -5/8 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Lowland and flood plain woods.
	Running oak. Quercus pumila Habit: A semi-deciduous shrub, commonly forming thickets of subterranean runners, generally 3 feet tall. If the site has not been burned recently they may be 6 feet in height. Leaves: Alternate, simple, oblanceolate or spatulate, narrowly elliptic, or lanceolate, with entire margins. Flowers: Inconspicuous Acorn: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Iong and in the black group. Habitat: Well-drained pinelands.
	Live oak. Quercus virginiana Habit: Large, spreading, evergreen tree to 60 feet in height. Rough bark with the short, central trunk dividing above the ground into several large branches. Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, leathery, and stiff to 2 - 5 in. Iong & 1/2 - 2 in. wide. Upper leaf surfaces are green & shiny above, and pale gray & sparsely tomentose below. Leaves of saplings and shoots may be toothed or shallowly lobed. Flowers: Male flowers are hanging catkins 2 - 3 in. Iong. Acorn: 1/2 - 1 in. Iong and in the white group. Habitat: Well-drained woods, pine flatwoods, and salt marshes.
GLOSSARY: alternate - an unpaired arrangement - as opposed to opposite. Alternate leaves are located singly on the stem. apical - located at the apex or tip axil - the upper angle between two structures (the leaf axil is between the leaf and the stem) compound leaf - a leaf in which the blade is subdivided into two or more leaflets. The opposite is simple leaf. elliptic - a shape where the middle is wider than the two tapered ends entire - leaf margins without teeth, lobes, or divisions lanceolate - lance-shaped, the base is broadest and gradually narrowed at the apex margin - The edge of the leaf oblanceolate - the apex is broadest and gradually narrowed to the base (the opposite is lanceolate) obovate - The apex (or tip) is wider than the base petiole - The leaf stalk revolute - With the margins rolled backward toward the underside simple leaf - a leaf with only one blade, not compound spatulate - shaped like a spatula, rounded at the apex and tapering to the base tomentose - a covering of short, matted or tangled soft wooly hairs
References: Arny, Nancy P. Common Oaks of Florida. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fact Sheet FOR 51 Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia and Alabama. University of Georgia Press: Athens, GA 1981. The illustrations for this article came from this book. ISBN: 0820310352 USF Institute for Systemic Botany, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, On-line Version http://www.usf.edu/~isb/progects/atlas/dic-def.html Wunderlin, Richard P. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Florida. University Press of Florida: Tampa, FL. 1991
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