What an awesome tree. Can't believe how beautiful these trees look clothed in leaves or even better just showing the amazing branching structure. Scotts Valley and Ben Lomond have the added heat that these trees require to prosper. We do have a few in Rio Del Mar but they will not ever get as large as those or the trees seen in the Central Valley.
Growing to 80 feet tall with a broad open spreading crown, these trees have massive branches with fantatic bark. The branching pattern is spectacular, with smaller and smaller branched creating a soft outline at the perimeter.
Leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, obovate, 2-4" long, half that in width, 7-11 rounded lobes that reach at least half way to the midrib, generally deeper. They are light green on the upper surface, lighter below with trichomes (hairs) on the veins and petiole.
Stems are light brown, ridged, with small very small buds except the terminals. They also have trichomes, giving the stems a tannish color until they fall off.
Male and female flowers are separated, males in catkins, females just behind the apical growing points. Males are easy to see, female not so.
Fruit is an acorn 1-2" long borne singly or in pairs on a short stalk. Mature the first year. The cap is called an involucre or involucral bracts which are modified leaves surrounding the inflorescence.
Misidentification:
Other oaks with rounded lobes. Around here you are not likely to see many others, you might encounter a white oak or a burr oak but they both have much larger leaves.
Location:
Aptos
695 Loma Prieta Dr
412 Sumner Dr.
Ben Lomond
Highway 9 Scarborough Hardware Ben Lomond
