TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

FAGACEAE

OAK FAMILY

John M. Tucker

Shrub or tree, monoecious, deciduous or evergreen
Leaves simple, alternate, petioled; margin entire to lobed; stipules small, generally deciduous
Staminate inflorescence: catkin or stiff spike; flowers many
Pistillate inflorescence 1–few-flowered, generally above staminate inflorescence; involucre in fruit generally cup-like or lobed and bur-like, bracts many, generally overlapping, flat or cylindric
Staminate flower: sepals generally 5–6, minute; petals 0; stamens 4–12+
Pistillate flower: calyx generally 6-lobed, minute; petals 0; ovary inferior, style branches generally 3
Fruit: acorn (nut subtended by scaly, cup-like involucre) or 1–3 nuts subtended by spiny, bur-like involucre; nut maturing in 1–2 years
Seed generally 1
Genera in family: 7 genera, ± 900 species: generally n hemisphere. Wood of Quercus critical for pre-20th century ship-building, charcoal for metallurgy; some now supply wood (Fagus, Quercus ), cork (Q. suber ), food (Castanea , chestnut).

QUERCUS

OAK

Evergreen or deciduous
Leaf: stipules small, generally early deciduous
Staminate inflorescences: catkins, 1–several, slender, on proximal part of twig
Pistillate inflorescence axillary among upper leaves, short-stalked; flower generally 1
Staminate flower: calyx 4–6-lobed, minute; stamens 4–10
Pistillate flower: calyx minute, generally 6-lobed; ovary enclosed by involucre
Fruit: acorn, maturing in 1–2 years; nut enclosed by cup-like involucre with thin or tubercled scales
Chromosomes: 2n=24 for all reports
Species in genus: ± 600 species: n hemisphere, to n South America, India
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name for oak)
Many more hybrids have been named but are not included here. Reproduction of many species declining.

Native

Q. palmeri (Engelm.) Engelm.

PALMER'S OAK

Shrub 2–6 m, evergreen; twigs spreading, rigid
Leaf 1–3 cm, very stiff; petiole 2–5 mm; blade elliptic to round-ovate, tip generally spiny, margin wavy and spine-toothed, upper surface glabrous to sparsely puberulent, ± shiny, olive-green, lower surface densely glandular-puberulent when young, pale gray-green
Fruit maturing in 2 years; cup 10–25 mm wide, 6–12 mm deep, generally bowl-shaped, rim ± spreading, scales flat, densely hairy; nut 20–30 mm, ± ovoid, tip generally obtuse, shell densely woolly inside
Ecology: Uncommon. Rocky slopes, flats
Elevation: 700–1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Inner North Coast Ranges (Colusa Co.), nw San Joaquin Valley (Alameda, Contra Costa cos.), San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda Co.), South Coast Ranges (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara cos.), San Gabriel Mountains (n slope), e Peninsular Ranges, Desert Mountains (Little San Bernardino Mtns)
Distribution outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Flowering time: Apr–May
Synonyms: Q. dunnii Kellogg
Hybridizes with Q. chrysolepis.
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &IRR: 11; STBL.